Jimmy Kimmel’s wife reveals ‘90% of family members’ ignored her warning not to vote for Trump – ‘When I see these terrible stories every day, I’m immediately mad at certain aunts, uncles, and cousins who put him in power’

Los Angeles, CA – In a deeply personal episode of the We Can Do Hard Things podcast on Thursday, Molly McNearney, 47, executive producer and co-head writer of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, revealed how her husband Jimmy Kimmel’s long-running feud with Trump has severely strained—and in some cases ended her relationships with conservative family members.

Speaking alongside Kimmel, 57, McNearney described the emotional toll of political division, stating, “To me, them voting for Trump is them not voting for my husband and me and our family,” and admitting she has “lost relationships with people in my family because of it.”

McNearney shared that she grew up “in a very conservative, Republican” household in St. Louis. Her political views shifted after relocating to California and meeting “people from different backgrounds.” She was “upset” by Trump’s 2016 victory but recalled thinking, “I understand it.”

This time, however, the stakes feel personal: “It hurts me so much because of the personal relationship I now have where my husband is out there fighting this man.”

She told podcast co-host Glennon Doyle, who likened her to the Hunger Games “Mockingjay” of the anti-Trump resistance, “It’s definitely been challenging.”

McNearney expressed sympathy for relatives “deliberately being misinformed every day” but said she now personalizes their support for Trump: “I feel like I’m kind of in constant conflict and I’m angry all the time, which isn’t healthy at all… When I see these terrible stories every day, I’m immediately mad at certain aunts, uncles, cousins who put him in power. And it’s really hard.”

She admitted, “I wish I could deprogram myself in some way, but I get really angry.”

McNearney’s Pre-Election Pleas to Family Members

McNearney revealed she sent multiple emails to family members before the 2024 election: “I’m begging you. Here’s the 10 reasons not to vote for this guy. Please don’t.” She received no response from 90% and “truly insane responses” from a few.

“I’ve definitely pulled in closer with the family that I feel more aligned with,” she said. “And I hate that this has happened… It feels silly. You know, part of me goes, ‘Don’t let politics get in the way.’ But to me, this isn’t politics. It’s truly values. And we just were not aligned anymore.”

She added, “This is not just Republican versus Democrat for me anymore… It is, to me, it’s family values and it’s really hard for me because I grew up believing in these Christian ideals of taking care of the sick and taking care of the poor and I don’t see that happening with this Republican party.”

The Kimmel-Trump Feud – How It Began

The tension escalated earlier this year when Jimmy Kimmel Live! was pulled from ABC’s lineup indefinitely on September 17, following Kimmel’s on-air comments about the death of right-wing political commentator Charlie Kirk.

Trump celebrated on Truth Social the same day, “Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible.”

Less than a week later, ABC reinstated the show.

Trump posted again, “Why would [ABC] want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE.”

Trump has long targeted Kimmel and other late-night hosts for criticism.

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Kimmel and McNearney met on the set of Jimmy Kimmel Live!. They married on July 13, 2013, and share two children: daughter Jane, 11, and son Billy, 8. Kimmel has two adult children from his first marriage to Gina Maddy: daughter Katie, 34, and son Kevin, 32.

McNearney’s candor shows the human cost of political tribalism, with 72% of Americans reporting family disputes over politics.