On Jimmy Kimmel Live! June 10, the host mocked President Donald Trump’s claim that Spencer Pratt’s Los Angeles mayoral race was rigged—pointing to how the same ballot included the California governor’s race, where Trump-endorsed Steve Hilton advanced. Kimmel a
Jimmy Kimmel didn’t take Spencer Pratt’s loss in the Los Angeles mayoral primary quietly—especially not after President Donald Trump promoted a conspiracy theory that the race was rigged.
On Wednesday, June 10, during his latest monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the 58-year-old host zeroed in on Trump’s argument, delivered during a recent Oval Office press conference, that ballots were tampered with only where Pratt’s campaign was concerned.
Kimmel joked. “Somehow. the Dumb-ocrats rigged the ballots. but only parts that voted for mayor. ” as he leaned into the absurdity of a scheme that supposedly spared other races. The punchline was built around what Trump said—insisting the mayoral outcome was manipulated to knock Pratt out of moving forward after the June 2 primary.
Trump, 79, had argued that the approval for the governor’s race proved the cheating didn’t make sense. In Kimmel’s studio. a clip played of Trump claiming. “The only reason [Hilton. 56] got approved. he got all the votes he needed. probably to be first place. ” then adding. “The only reason they approved Steve Hilton … because the heat was on them. They’re cheating dogs.”.
As the audience laughed, Kimmel tried to square that logic with what voters actually saw on the ballot.
He pointed out, “The votes for governor, they left untouched! It’s diabolical! It’s a miracle that people that are so incredibly stupid can be so incredibly smart at the same time.”
Then he went for the emotional beat behind the joke, quipping, “In a sane world, that statement [from Trump] would have been the moment where the nurse came in and put him to bed. But that’s not the world we live in!”
Pratt, 42, ultimately failed to advance past the June 2 primary. Under California’s electoral system. a runoff between the top two vote-getters is held unless one candidate finishes with more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary. In the L.A. mayoral primary, Mayor Karen Bass, 72, finished first with 34.30 percent, L.A. City Councilwoman Nithya Raman took second with 29 percent, and Spencer Pratt trailed in third with 25.52 percent, per L.A. Vote.
A key detail in Trump’s claim—Kimmel’s main target—was that the mayoral primary vote appeared on the same ballot as California’s governor’s race. In that gubernatorial primary, Trump-endorsed Republican candidate Steve Hilton, 56, advanced to face Democrat Xavier Becerra in November’s runoff.
By Monday, June 8, it was determined that Raman would move forward to challenge Mayor Karen Bass in November’s general election.
Kimmel’s mockery didn’t stop at conspiracy theories. Earlier that week, on Tuesday, June 9, he also revisited Pratt’s vow to leave Los Angeles if he didn’t win.
“[Pratt] said he was done with L.A. and Spencer. if you’re watching. we are so. so sorry to see you go. ” Kimmel told viewers. “We do know we’re going to miss the hell out of you. You’re a man of your word and you’ve got to go. You said you were going to go and I know things might be tight right now. especially out-of-state donation money is running out.”.
Then Kimmel added a joke about moving costs: “Moving is expensive, so, to help you out, we rented you a U-Haul. It has plenty of room. It has two beds, tables, chairs, all your crystals, whatever you want. Our staff spent the whole day decorating for you.”
Pratt answered on X on Wednesday by sharing footage showing the wreckage of his former home, which burned down in the 2025 Palisades Fire. In his post, he wrote, “Jimmy Kimmel i guess you missed the part of the story i don’t need a U-Haul…I have nothing left to pack.”
That push-and-pull—Trump’s ballot logic, Kimmel’s public teasing, and Pratt’s response—didn’t land quietly with everyone. Meghan McCain. 41. jumped in after the jokes. calling Kimmel a “mean. heartless b*****d.” She added on Wednesday. “The day [Kimmel] is off air will be a better day for the country.”.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs on ABC weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET.
Jimmy Kimmel Spencer Pratt Los Angeles mayoral race Donald Trump rigged ballots Nithya Raman Karen Bass Steve Hilton Xavier Becerra Meghan McCain Jimmy Kimmel Live ABC
Rigged ballots? lol sure Jan.
Wait so they say it was rigged only for mayor but not governor? That makes no sense but also Trump says a lot of things that kinda line up sometimes.
I don’t even get it. If Hilton won then how is that proof of anything? Like maybe they messed with the mayor because the governor race was already decided?? Either way Spencer Pratt being a former celebrity should’ve never been on the ballot in the first place.
Kimmel just roasting Trump doesn’t mean it’s false. People act like ‘oh the governor race was fine’ is some slam dunk, but they could’ve done it differently. Also I saw somewhere that they use the same ballot thing in CA so of course it’s gonna show both races, doesn’t mean they didn’t tamper. Conspiracy dogs?? I’m honestly confused.