After Trump Mocks Harvard Graduates, Jimmy Kimmel “Releases” a Fake 1965 SAT Score Card on Live TV in a Viral Comedy Bit

A new wave of political humor swept across American screens this week after late-night host Jimmy Kimmel delivered a surprise comedic segment in response to former President Donald Trump’s latest remarks about Ivy League elites. Following Trump’s speech in which he mocked Harvard graduates as “overrated bureaucrats with fancy diplomas,” Kimmel seized the moment and produced what he jokingly described as Trump’s “1965 SAT score card” — a clearly staged prop that instantly lit up social media.

While no such document exists and Kimmel made no claim that the card was real, the comedic stunt became a viral sensation. The bit tapped into long-standing tensions around education, elitism, and Trump’s public rivalry with academic institutions — all wrapped in Kimmel’s trademark satirical edge.

Trump’s Comments on Harvard and Elite Universities

The spark for the viral moment came during a rally where Trump criticized Ivy League schools, focusing particularly on Harvard. He argued that the Ivy League — long associated with political elites, technocrats, and top-ranking government officials — has lost its credibility.

“We’ve got all these geniuses from Harvard telling us how to run the country,” Trump said, “and they can’t even run their own universities.”

The comment drew both applause from supporters and backlash from academics, but for late-night comedians, it was prime material. Kimmel, who has regularly used his platform to lampoon Trump, took special interest.

Kimmel’s Set-Up: “If We’re Talking About Smarts…”

During Monday’s monologue, Kimmel claimed he wanted to “level the playing field” after Trump’s attack on Ivy League intelligence.

“If Trump wants to start comparing academic credentials,” Kimmel said, smiling mischievously into the camera, “maybe we should take a look at his own.”

He then reached under his desk and theatrically pulled out a large manila envelope labeled “Top Secret — Just Like the Nuclear Codes.” The audience erupted even before he opened it, fully aware that whatever came next would be comedic, not factual.

Inside the envelope was a retro-styled SAT score card dated 1965, stamped with the name “Donald J. Trump” and featuring absurdly low scores scribbled in oversized red ink. The card included humorous categories like “Common Sense Reasoning,” “Ability to Take a Joke,” and “Reading Comprehension (Twitter Edition).”

“Look at this — he got a 37 in ‘Sense of Humor,’” Kimmel laughed. “Honestly, that seems generous.”

The Comedy — and the Message — Behind the Prop

Kimmel’s bit was classic political satire. At no point did he imply the card was real; the oversized fonts, outdated formatting, and comedic categories made the fictional nature obvious. But the segment struck a chord because it played on long-running speculation, jokes, and cultural narratives surrounding Trump’s educational background.

The stunt worked precisely because it embraced exaggeration. It wasn’t an attempt at investigative journalism — it was theatrical critique, the kind late-night television has relied upon for decades.

Still, some viewers, especially those who only saw clipped versions of the segment online, interpreted the joke literally. Kimmel addressed this after the commercial break:

“For the five people on the internet who think that was real: no, the SAT was not graded on a 0-100 clown scale in 1965. It’s a joke. That’s what we do here.”

Social Media Erupts

As soon as the segment aired, social media platforms were flooded with reactions:

• Kimmel fans praised the bit as some of his funniest material of the year.

• Trump critics gleefully shared the clip, often adding their own commentary or remixing the fake SAT card into memes.

• Trump supporters dismissed the segment as another example of “coastal elitist comedy” targeting the former president.

• Casual viewers mostly just enjoyed the humor, treating the stunt as a lighthearted moment in a political season filled with tension.

Within hours, the clip reached millions of views across YouTube, X, TikTok, and Instagram.

One popular meme added imaginary subjects to the card, such as “Truthfulness,” “Loyalty to Reality,” and “Avoiding Indictments,” each scored with tongue-in-cheek zeros or negative numbers.

A Wider Commentary on Education and Elitism

Beyond the humor, the exchange reflected deeper cultural dynamics:

• Trump has long positioned himself against elite academic institutions, framing them as out of touch with everyday Americans.

• Kimmel’s satire tapped into skepticism about Trump’s own claims of intellectual superiority.

• The “SAT card” acted as a symbolic counterpoint — a humorous way to highlight the irony in attacking other people’s education while elevating one’s own.

Analysts noted that the moment represented a broader pattern in American political entertainment: comedians fill the space where politicians make provocative statements, transforming them into digestible cultural commentary.

Trump’s Reaction — or Lack Thereof

As of midweek, Trump had not commented directly on Kimmel’s bit. Given his history of reacting sharply to late-night mockery, some expected a fiery response on social media. Others argued that staying silent may have been a strategic choice to avoid amplifying the segment.

Regardless, the joke stands on its own — the kind of viral late-night moment that becomes part of political pop culture, even when rooted entirely in satire rather than fact.

Conclusion

Jimmy Kimmel’s mock “1965 SAT score card” was not an exposé or a revelation — it was a comedic response to Trump’s decision to mock Harvard graduates and criticize elite education. The segment highlighted the evolving role of political humor in shaping public discourse: sharp, fast-moving, and deeply entwined with the internet’s appetite for shareable moments.