Jimmy Kimmel wants Portlanders to show him around the Rose City.
The late-night host used the first few minutes of his opening monologue Wednesday to decry President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. — along with more timely attempts to do the same in Portland and Chicago.
Following in line with a flurry of Portland mentions across talk shows and comedy sketches, Kimmel mocked the narrative of the city as “war-ravaged.”
“Trump and his buddies on the right-wing media are talking about Portland like it’s a scene from ‘The Last of Us’,” he said, “when the reality is this is what these troops are being called in to stop.”
He then queued up two short clips from recent demonstrations outside South Portland’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement base in which protestors — many clad in inflatable animal costumes — danced along to “Pepas” by Farruko and disco hit “Y.M.C.A.”
“They’re taking back Y.M.C.A.” Kimmel joked. “We’re reclaiming our Village People in Portland!”
Two protesters wear costumes on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in South Portland.Jonathan Bach I The Oregonian/OregonLive
Kimmel also had a request for Portlanders — and Chicagoans and Memphians and residents from any city where Trump has sought to send National Guard troops.
“Make a video of your ‘war-torn’ community and post it to YouTube with the hashtag #ShowMeYourHellhole, and then look for a message from us so we can share it on the show,” he said. “We want to see all the horrors the administration is defending you from.”
Portlanders already have some experience showing off the best of their city.
Last month, when Trump likened life in Oregon’s largest city as “living in hell,” Rose City residents — and social media-savvy news outlets — responded with footage of picturesque bike rides, idyllic farmers markets, waterfront concerts and trees speckled with autumn colors.
Some of that same Pacific Northwest reverence made its way over to TikTok, with “Portland Tok” users sharing their own perspectives of the city.
So, dig up those video clips. We have a sneaking suspicion they’ll be beautiful.
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