Jimmy Kimmel grills Biden on gun legislation inaction after Uvalde and other school shootings

President Biden sat down with Jimmy Kimmel on Wednesday's Kimmel Live, and Kimmel started the interview with some serious questions on why America hasn't done anything significant on gun violence, even after the Uvalde, Texas, massacre and 26 other school shootings this year. He felt compelled to ask serious questions, he deadpanned, so as not to disappoint Fox News.
Biden said he believes Republicans won't vote for new gun laws because they are scared they would lose their seats in "a hard-right Republican primary." Kimmel said that even if the GOP has veered right, the country hasn't and tighter gun laws are overwhelmingly popular. "Can't you issue an executive order?" he asked. Former President Donald Trump "passed those out like Halloween candy."
"Well, I have issued executive orders within the power of the presidency" to address gun violence, "but what I don't want to do — and I'm not being facetious — I don't want to emulate Trump's abuse of the Constitution and constitutional authority," Biden said. "I often get asked, 'Look, the Republicans don't play it square, why do you play it square?' Well, guess what? If we do the same thing they do, our democracy will literally be in jeopardy."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"I understand that argument, but also it's like you're playing 'Monopoly' with somebody who, you know, won't pass Go," Kimmel said, "and how do you ever make any progress if they're not following the rules?" "You gotta send them to jail," Biden joked, assuring the audience he meant in the game, not real life.
Biden and Kimmel discussed climate change, voting rights, and the pending Supreme Court decision striking down abortion rights. "I don't think the country will stand for it," he said of overturning Roe v. Wade and other reproductive rights, "but I think what we're gonna have to do is there's some executive orders I could employ, we believe — we're looking at that right now."
"It's kind of exciting to have the president come visit you at work, but not everyone's thrilled about his appearance here tonight," Kimmel said in his monologue. "The folks over at Fox News and the wannabe Fox New Jr.'s are very upset that the president is doing an interview with, of all people, me while he's in town for the Summit of the Americas." He noted the critique from Fox hosts about the need to serve presidents tough questions, then showed clips of them lobbing praise and softballs at Trump.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
July 26 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include Joe Biden's memoir, PBS funding, and an Obama-Trump comparison
-
5 low ratings cartoons about the Late Show cancellation
Cartoons Artists take on early warning signs, the Gen Z stare, and more
-
Connie Francis: Superstar of the early 1960s pop scene
In the Spotlight The 'Pretty Little Baby' and 'Stupid Cupid' singer has died aged 87
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein