Jimmy Kimmel in Las Vegas: Donald Trump’s father used to tip mine a nickel for serving him breakfast

Kimmel was campaigning with Nevada Democratic US Sen. Jacky Rosen, and for the first time, publicly told a story to Culinary Union workers about the poor tipping etiquette of Fred Trump. 

Long before late night television host Jimmy Kimmel became a household name as a comedian or awards show host, he spent the bulk of his youth growing up in Las Vegas. But even before that, Kimmel’s dad, James, had gotten to know Fred Trump, the father of Donald Trump. 

James Kimmel was a waiter at a Fred Trump-owned building in New York while still living in Brooklyn, and actually served the former president’s father breakfast on many occasions. But, according to Jimmy Kimmel — who was in Las Vegas on Monday to campaign with Democratic US Sen. Jacky Rosen — the real estate tycoon would tip Kimmel’s father just a nickel after each meal. 

“Five cents. For the guy who could’ve spit in his eggs every morning,” Kimmel, a graduate of Clark High School, told a crowd of roughly 400 political organizers volunteering on behalf of Culinary Union Local 226. 

Kimmel’s reveal drew a gasp from the crowd at Culinary’s union hall in downtown Las Vegas. 

Local 226 and its affiliated organizations represent more than 60,000 hospitality workers employed at casino resorts, hotels, restaurants, and bars throughout Las Vegas and Reno. The union is also behind a robust political organizing apparatus that this year is hoping to activate hundreds of members and have thus far knocked on more than 900,000 doors statewide, according to a spokesperson. 

It’s part of an organizational effort many Democrats and political observers call the Reid Machine, after the late Harry Reid, a Democrat who represented Nevada in the US Senate for decades and was Senate Majority Leader during the Obama administration. 

Culinary’s boots-on-the-ground approach to getting out the vote is part of the reason why Nevada hasn’t elected a Republican for president since 2004 — but with polls showing that Nevada is a toss-up in this year’s race, Kimmel said he wanted to show support for the door-knockers and canvassers who are working as many as nine hours per day to bolster support for union-backed candidates like Rosen and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris. 

“They [Republicans] don’t have real people working as hard as you are working to win this election,” said Kimmel, who also joined Rosen on Monday to talk to Southern Nevada Building Trade Union members and energize campaign volunteers. “So, I again just want to say we appreciate what you’re doing. Keep doing it. We’ve got to finish strong, and we’ve got to win Nevada for Jacky Rosen, and, most importantly, for all of you.”

While Trump has attempted to woo hospitality workers with a promise to eliminate taxes on tipped income, Kimmel said he thinks it’s important to consider the long public record of Trump and his family stiffing workers when determining if Trump will make good on his promises. 

“I know when Donald Trump wakes up at one of our hotels, probably his own, and he looks at his bed and there’s orange makeup all over the pillows, do you think he leaves a $20 bill on that bed,” for the cleaners?” Kimmel asked. “I would bet every dollar that he doesn’t.” 

Kimmel continued: “When these people, Donald Trump and (Rosen’s opponent) Sam Brown, tell you that they’re on your side and they care about you, remember,” this story,” Kimmel said. “They are not on your side.”

Support Our Cause

Thank you for taking the time to read our work. Before you go, we hope you'll consider supporting our values-driven journalism, which has always strived to make clear what's really at stake for Nevadans and our future.

Since day one, our goal here at The Nevadan / El Nevadense has always been to empower people across the state with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Nevada families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.

Frank Alejandre, Community Editor

Give $5 Give $25 Give $50 Other

Your support keeps us going

Help us continue delivering fact-based news to Nevadans