It started as one of Marjorie Taylor Greene’s boldest promises yet — and it ended as late-night comedy gold.
The controversial congresswoman from Georgia set social media ablaze this week after announcing that she plans to read names from the infamous Jeffrey Epstein client list on the House floor — the one place in America where she can legally say those names without fear of a defamation lawsuit. “There are people on both sides who don’t want this to come out,” Greene said, vowing to “expose the truth” once Congress reconvenes.
But as the government shutdown drags on, with tempers flaring and federal workers unpaid, Greene’s fiery pledge to “read the list” sparked a very different kind of reaction outside Washington — namely from Jimmy Kimmel Live! host Jimmy Kimmel, who has made a career of lampooning Greene’s headline-grabbing antics.
On Monday night’s show, Kimmel delivered one of his most biting monologues of the year, poking fun at what he called “the most Marjorie Taylor Greene thing ever — turning a federal shutdown into an episode of Unsolved Mysteries.”
“She says she’s going to read the Epstein list on the House floor,” Kimmel said, eyes wide in mock awe. “If she actually does that, I’ll eat my cue cards live on air — because for once, she’d be doing the nation a favor.”
The audience roared.
But Kimmel wasn’t done.
He pulled out a large manila folder labeled ‘Epstein List’ and pretended to open it carefully. “You know what she’s going to say, right?” he deadpanned. “‘First name: Hillary Clinton. Second name: Hunter Biden. Third name: George Soros’s gardener.’”
The joke landed hard, echoing Kimmel’s long-running frustration with Greene’s penchant for pushing unverified claims and online conspiracies. But even as the laughter filled the studio, Kimmel’s monologue carried a more pointed undercurrent — a challenge disguised as comedy.
“I mean seriously,” he continued, “if she really wants to read it, do it. Read the names. Every single one. But here’s the thing — do it all the way. Don’t just pick the ones that make your Facebook fans happy. Read everyone. That’s the test.”
It was the kind of sharp, self-aware humor that has defined Kimmel’s political commentary in recent years — mocking his targets, yes, but also daring them to live up to their own rhetoric.
Meanwhile, Greene’s remarks have already sparked a flurry of debate inside Washington. Legal analysts note that the House floor — protected by the Constitution’s “Speech or Debate Clause” — is one of the few places in America where a person can name alleged Epstein associates without risk of being sued. Still, congressional leaders have yet to indicate whether they would allow or intervene in such an unprecedented moment.
One aide close to House leadership told reporters that Greene’s comments were “pure chaos wrapped in a stunt,” while others privately admitted that they’re watching closely to see if she follows through. “If she actually names names, it would be explosive,” one Democratic staffer said. “But if she doesn’t, she’ll look like she’s just chasing headlines again.”
That ambiguity — between scandal and showmanship — is exactly what Kimmel zeroed in on.
“She’s promising to reveal all these powerful names,” Kimmel said. “And I believe her — right after she finishes investigating the Jewish space lasers and the Antifa volcano base.”
By that point, the studio audience was in stitches, but Kimmel closed on a surprisingly sober note. “Look, if what she says is true — if she really exposes people who enabled Jeffrey Epstein — great. That’s real accountability. But if it’s another conspiracy carnival, then she’s not reading names. She’s reading punchlines.”
The audience broke into applause — a mix of laughter and approval.
As of now, Greene hasn’t responded directly to Kimmel’s remarks, though her staff has hinted she’s “unbothered by Hollywood elites” and “focused on the truth.” Still, insiders at Fox and CNN alike note that her promise — and Kimmel’s blistering reaction — have only amplified public curiosity about the Epstein files, which remain sealed under court order except for limited portions released earlier this year.
Whether Greene truly intends to read those names or simply rally her base with the idea remains unclear. What is clear is that, for late-night television, she has once again become an endless source of material.
In Kimmel’s final jab of the night, he looked straight into the camera and smiled.
“So tune in, folks,” he said. “If she really does it, I’ll clear the stage, get my knife and fork ready, and eat these cue cards one by one. Because at that point, Marjorie Taylor Greene will have done something no one thought possible — she’ll finally said something worth listening to.”
The line brought the audience to its feet — and as the cameras faded, it was clear that Greene’s latest headline had just become another unforgettable moment in the long-running, high-stakes comedy that is American politics.
