Jimmy Fallon fires back at Trump after 'be a man' comment by donating to an immigration non-profit in the president's name
- Jimmy Fallon recently expressed regret over his infamous 2016 interview with Donald Trump.
- Trump attacked Fallon on Twitter, telling Fallon to "be man."
- Fallon responded by tweeting that he would donate to an immigration services non-profit in the president's name.
After President Trump told Jimmy Fallon to "be a man" on Twitter, the late-night host fired back by saying he would donate to a Texas-based immigration services non-profit in Trump's name.
Fallon recently expressed regret in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter over the infamous 2016 interview in which Fallon tussled the then-candidate's hair. Fallon faced backlash at the time for "humanizing" Trump and not addressing controversial political topics. It's an interview that still haunts Fallon. During an appearance on THR's "Awards Chatter" podcast, Fallon said he "did not do it to 'normalize' him or to say I believe in his political beliefs or any of that stuff."
"I saw other comedians from other shows making fun of me on Twitter and I go, 'Okay, now I'm just gonna get off,'" Fallon continued. "They know the show. I'm just doing five hours a week. I get in at 10 in the morning, I work 'til seven at night and I'm just trying to make a funny show."
Trump got wind of Fallon's comments and took to Twitter to call him out. Trump said "[Jimmy Fallon] is now whimpering to all that he did the famous 'hair show' with me (where he seriously messed up my hair), & that he would have now done it differently because it is said to have 'humanized' me-he is taking heat. He called & said 'monster ratings.' Be a man Jimmy!"
Fallon responded to Trump's tweet with a vow to donate to RAICES - a Texas-based immigration legal services non-profit - in Trump's name. "In honor of the President's tweet I'll be making a donation to RAICES in his name," Fallon said.
It's unknown how much Fallon will be donating, but it's a rare political move for the late-night host, who has largely committed his show to avoiding politics, at least compared to his fellow hosts like Seth Meyers and Stephen Colbert. But Fallon made it clear during his "Awards Chatter" interview that the "hair-tussle" is something he may never live down.
On the verge of tears, Fallon added, "It was definitely a down time and it's tough for morale ... You go, 'Alright, we get it. I heard you. You made me feel bad. So now what? Are you happy? I'm depressed. Do you want to push me more? What do you want me to do? You want me to kill myself? What would make you happy? Get over it.'"