Jimmy Kimmel refuses to back down after mocking Secretary Mullin over plumbing background

"Let me make this very clear, I'm not upset that the head of Homeland Security used to be a plumber. I'm upset that he isn't still a plumber," Kimmel said during his opening monologue.

"Of course, they decided to twist that to say it was an insult to plumbers, which it was not," Kimmel said.

"I wouldn't 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. OK? We all have our areas of expertise," he added.

Fox News Digital reached out to Secretary Mullin for comment but did not immediately hear back.  

The controversy began when Kimmel made the initial comments during his Tuesday show. He specifically discussed Mullin's past work as a plumber, comparing his qualifications to those of the Nintendo character from "Super Mario Bros."

Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., wrote on X: "The disdain for which the Democrats and Hollywood elites have for working class Americans - and folks who step up to do important jobs for their country - is shameful. These people need help."

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas., also responded on X: "I prefer plumbers to woke & unfunny comedians."