Mike Rowe slams Jimmy Kimmel over ‘tone deaf’ plumber joke

Sharareh DruryTue, March 31, 2026 at 6:38 PM UTC

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Jimmy Kimmel and Mike RoweCredit: Getty(2)

Dirty Jobs host Mike Rowe is calling out Jimmy Kimmel for his recent criticism of plumbers moving into politics.

The television host called out Kimmel on social media over the late-night host recently saying he "was not a fan" of President Donald Trump nominating Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma as the country's new Secretary of Homeland Security due to Mullin having previously been a plumber. Mullin's appointment comes after President Trump's removal of former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem from the position.

At the top of the March 26 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, the comedian expressed that Mullin's previous work as a plumber is "not necessarily the kind of résumé you hope for the person in charge of protecting us from terrorism." Kimmel added he was aware of objections over his criticism of Mullin, but continued that he would not "put a plumber in charge of homeland security for the same reason I wouldn't call a five-star general to pull a rat out of my toilet."

After sharing clips of journalist Rob Finnerty slamming the host for his comments on Mullin on Newxmax TV's Finnerty talk show, Kimmel concluded that he is not upset that Mullin "was a plumber" but "that he still isn't a plumber."

He also reminded his audience about conservatives criticizing U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for having formerly worked as a bartender.

Markwayne Mullin in a cabinet meeting in 2026Credit: Will Oliver/Getty

Rowe noted the "backlash" over Kimmel's comments came not just from plumbers but "parents of plumbers, spouses of plumbers, children of plumbers, and millions of people who have had a plumber show up when they needed one."

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"Being offended is always a choice, and I don’t choose to be offended by a joke, even one that comes at the expense of the skilled tradespeople my foundation tries to elevate," Rowe continued. "But I am a tad butt hurt by the suggestion that skilled workers should never evolve into something new, and that competence is somehow limited to one vocation. Obviously, expertise and skill are important. If I need a new kidney, I’d prefer a doctor do the surgery, not a late-night talk show host. But if the doctor in question used to host a talk show, why would I hold that against him?"

While calling Kimmel's comments "tone deaf," the Somebody's Gotta Do It host went on to commend Mullin for being "a private citizen who mastered an essential skill and then turned that skill into a multi-million-dollar company that employed a lot of people and served a lot of customers, which in turn allowed him "the freedom" to pursue politics.

Mike Rowe from 'Dirty Jobs'Credit: Discovery

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"Is that not the embodiment of the American Dream? I get that Jimmy Kimmel might have a problem with Mullin’s politics, but what possible objection could he have about the trajectory of his career, or his desire to do more than one thing with his life?" Rowe asked.

Rowe ended his post by asking anyone "offended" by Kimmel's comments to consider donating to his mikeroweWORKS foundation.

on Entertainment Weekly

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