Jimmy Kimmel jokes that telling Trump about ‘Trump‑Epstein files’ could spur AI safeguards
During the September 17 monologue of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the host suggested a tongue‑in‑cheek way to get former president Donald Trump to take artificial‑intelligence risks seriously: tell him that ChatGPT is about to publish a set of “Trump‑Epstein files.” Kimmel framed the idea as a simple ploy, noting that Trump has repeatedly dismissed AI concerns as a hoax and has argued the United States…
Key points
- Kimmel suggested telling Trump ChatGPT will release “Trump‑Epstein files” to make him heed AI risks.
- He cited Wall Street Journal reports of White House officials meeting on AI safety, nicknamed “Operation Take Away Grandpa’s iPad.”
- Trump has publicly dismissed AI concerns as a hoax and opposes additional AI guardrails.
Kimmel also referenced recent reporting by The Wall Street Journal that senior White House officials are meeting regularly to discuss AI safety and how to persuade Trump, describing the internal effort as “Operation Take Away Grandpa’s iPad.” He said the administration’s staff has reportedly given up trying to convince the president, which he found scarier than the technology itself. The joke highlighted growing worries among AI researchers and tech leaders about the lack of political attention to AI safety.
The segment underscored the broader tension between AI experts urging stronger safeguards and a president who remains skeptical of the technology’s risks.
Jimmy Kimmel Jokes About Trump Taking AI Seriously with ChatGPT's 'Trump Epstein Files'
yahoo.com · 18 September 2026
Jimmy Kimmel has a wild idea for getting Donald Trump to take the threat of artificial intelligence seriously: Tell him ChatGPT is about to release the Trump-Epstein files.
Kimmel made the joke during his September 17 Jimmy Kimmel Live! monologue while discussing growing concerns from AI researchers and Trump administration officials about the technology's potential risks. The late-night host pointed to reports that White House officials have been meeting to discuss ways to persuade Trump to support more safeguards around AI.
The discussion comes as AI researchers and tech leaders have raised increasingly stark warnings about the technology. Kimmel noted that Trump has dismissed concerns about AI as a "hoax." Trump has publicly argued that the U.S. does not need additional AI guardrails, while AI executives and researchers have called for greater attention to potential safety risks.
"He said the robots will not be taking over the world," Kimmel said, before comparing Trump's assurance to the beginning of a movie where robots ultimately take over the world.
Meanwhile, Kimmel turned to reports about Trump's own administration wrestling with how to approach AI regulation. Kimmel said that according to The Wall Street Journal, senior officials have been meeting regularly over AI risks and how to persuade Trump on the issue.
"They're calling it Operation Take Away Grandpa's iPad," Kimmel joked.
He then imagined what happens when those officials bring their plans to Trump.
"Almost every day they get together to talk about AI and develop plans for how to keep us safe," Kimmel said, "which they then bring to the president who then tells them about his uncle who worked at MIT, eats his lunch, and falls asleep."
"That's frustrating," Kimmel continued. "Trump's staff has reportedly given up on trying to convince him of anything, which to me is even scarier than AI."
Kimmel then offered his alternative strategy.
"But I think I have a way they can, and I hope they're watching because if you want them to take the threat of AI seriously, it's real simple," he said. "Tell him ChatGPT is about to release the Trump Epstein files."
"I'll bet a hundred bucks he'll get the Pandora stuff right back in that box," Kimmel added.
This text was published by yahoo.com and written by Gina Ragusa. It is reproduced here with attribution so you can read it in full; the rights remain with the publisher. Read it at the source ↗
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