David Letterman thinks America's late-night TV scene is in good hands in light of ongoing feuds with President Donald Trump.

The television talk show icon visited "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and praised its host during the Dec. 9 episode. "People are aware of the fact that you are the leader of the resistance?" he said to Kimmel. "Irrespective of party or political ideology, if the leader of the free world is a fool, the leader of the free world then should expect and examine every bit of ridicule he receives."

Trump celebrated the demise of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" and has called for the firing of the host of "Late Night with Seth Meyers."

In September, ABC temporarily suspended "Jimmy Kimmel Live" after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatened regulatory action against ABC and Disney in the wake of a joke Kimmel made about Trump’s response to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Trump then suggested Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon should be the next television hosts to go.

"I'm so glad to be out from under this mess, because people like you and people like Stephen and people like Seth do such a masterful job of defending democracy," Letterman said.

Letterman also congratulated Kimmel on his one-year contract extension for "Jimmy Kimmel Live" for another year on ABC.

Watch Jimmy Kimmel with Disney+ bundle

What vice did Kimmel pick up from Letterman?

Letterman has been an influence on Kimmel outside the comedy sphere. "When I was about 15, I saw you smoking a cigar, and I started smoking cigars," Kimmel revealed during the conversation.

Letterman responded with, "Job well done, America!"

'My Next Guest Needs No Introduction' Season 6 guests

Letterman was on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" to promote the sixth season of his Netflix series, "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman."

The season premieres Dec. 16, and has three episodes, featuring guests Michael B. Jordan, MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) and Jason Bateman.

Watch David Letterman on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'

See Letterman talk about hugging a sculpted Michael B. Jordan, the epic experience of smoking his first cigar in more than 20 years, and how he muscled his way into a scene on Jason Bateman’s “Black Rabbit” Netflix series below.

Contact Midwest Connect reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cjackson@usatodayco.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com: @cherylvjackson or Bluesky: @cherylvjackson.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: David Letterman calls Trump 'a fool' during Jimmy Kimmel appearance

Reporting by Cheryl V. Jackson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star

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