Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel wrapped up his week of Jimmy Kimmel Live! performances in Brooklyn on Friday with a monologue that took aim at former President Donald Trump, tying together the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, Trump’s political headlines, and renewed attention on his past association with Jeffrey Epstein.

Opening his show with a blend of political humor and pop culture references, Kimmel joked, “I wonder which will get released first, Diddy or the Epstein files,” referring to music producer Sean “Diddy” Combs’ recent four-year prison sentence. The comment drew laughter from the audience but also transitioned into a segment that mixed satire with current events.

Kimmel noted that the federal government shutdown—which has stretched into another day with Congress still deadlocked over funding legislation—has become a major national story. He suggested that Trump, who has remained vocal throughout the political standoff, might not mind the attention being diverted from other controversies linked to his past, particularly the resurfacing of discussions surrounding Epstein.

The comedian then turned to the return of a provocative piece of artwork recently displayed near the U.S. Capitol. The sculpture, titled “Best Friends Forever,” depicts Trump and Epstein holding hands while smiling, with the U.S. Capitol dome visible in the background. The statue, which first appeared on the National Mall last week before being reportedly removed by the U.S. Park Police, has since been returned to public view, according to local reports.

Kimmel displayed a photo of the statue on screen and described it in his signature sardonic tone. “A beautiful piece of art,” he said, adding that the figures appeared to be “prancing playfully as the sun goes down in Washington, D.C.” He closed the segment with a tongue-in-cheek remark: “A pal is a wonderful thing.”

The episode also included an unexpected appearance by actor Matt Damon, continuing the long-running comedic rivalry between the two, a gag that has been a recurring part of Kimmel’s show for over a decade.

Kimmel’s comments came at a time of heightened political tension in Washington. Lawmakers from both parties have continued to exchange blame over the shutdown, which has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed or working without pay.

While the late-night host is known for blending politics and comedy, his latest monologue drew attention for intertwining two major storylines—Washington’s political gridlock and the resurfacing of an artwork linking Trump to Epstein—into one satirical commentary on the week’s headlines.