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Kimmel’s UCLA Trophy Bit Draws Fire After Championship Celebration
Clear Facts
- Jimmy Kimmel urged UCLA’s women’s basketball team to present a counterfeit trophy to President Donald Trump.
- The late-night host suggested Trump would steal the real championship award if the team visited the White House.
- Social media users criticized Kimmel for overshadowing the team’s historic victory with partisan political attacks.
The UCLA women’s basketball team recently celebrated their first national championship in program history after a dominant 79-51 victory over South Carolina.
During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the host shifted the focus away from their athletic achievement to criticize President Donald Trump.
Kimmel presented the athletes with a fake silver trophy and instructed them to use it as a decoy during a potential White House visit.
“What I want you to do is bring this fake trophy we’ve made to the White House. He’s not going to know. But when you bring a trophy, he sometimes takes it and keeps it for himself,” Kimmel said.
The host continued his routine by suggesting the move would trick the President into providing the school with a financial endowment.
“So, this is for you guys to take to the White House. And then you can say, ‘President Trump, we want you to have this.’ And he’ll be so happy. You’ll probably get an endowment and you’ll be able to keep the real one,” Kimmel said.
While coach Cori Close and the players reacted with light laughter, many viewers expressed frustration that the milestone was used for political theater.
Critics on social media argued that Kimmel’s obsession with the former President ruined a moment intended to honor the team’s hard work.
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