Funnyman Jimmy Kimmel poked fun at the “extraordinary moment” when Ohio Republican Markwayne Mullin offered to run against Teamster union boss Sean O’Brien during an explosive Senate committee hearing on Tuesday.
Kimmel noted that Chairman Bernie Sanders, 82, took on the role of “Grandpa Bernie” as he banged the gavel in an attempt to stop the couple’s bickering.
Ex-MMA fighter Mullin, 46, told O’Brien, 50, to stand up as he adjusted his wedding ring and looked ready to lunge during the wild Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing.
“Grandpa Bernie is about to flip this car and then no one will go to Six Flags,” Kimmel joked, adding that the recent altercations on Capitol Hill had created “UFC-SPAN.”
Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin stood up Tuesday and challenged a Teamster boss to a fight amid chaotic scenes in Congress
Ex-MMA fighter Mullin told Sean O’Brien to stand up as he adjusted his wedding ring and looked ready to strike out during Tuesday’s wild Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing
The confrontation on the Senate side was sparked by Sean O’Brien (pictured) challenging Mullin to a fight on Twitter in June, when he called him a “clown” and a fraud.
Senator Bernie Sanders interrupted and demanded Mullin sit down
Kimmel spoke about the alleged confrontation between former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett.
It is reported that McCarthy elbowed Burchett in the back after a vote.
Kimmel said it was “presumably some kind of revenge for voting to remove McCarthy as chairman last month.”
McCarthy has denied the report in which Kimmel joked that “(McCarthy) is also denying the election, so he’s probably lying.”
Kimmel went on to joke that Sanders has played peacekeeper before, most notably between Alexander Hamilton and the man who shot him, Aaron Burr, in 1804.
“This isn’t the first time Bernie Sanders has been forced to play the role of peacemaker. You know, when he was originally elected to the Senate, he tried to convince Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton to embrace it, and that didn’t work either. That didn’t end well at all,” the late night host joked.
While at CBS, Stephen Colbert did his patented Bernie Sanders impression for laughs.
“Zip it, Bunson Honeydew! Sit down, or I’m going to come over there and redistribute the top 10 percent of my fist over 99 percent of your face! I’ll split your lip like pea soup! Don’t make me take my mitts off!'” the former Colbert Report host joked.
Kimmel said the antics on Capitol Hill this week could mean the creation of UFC-SPAN
The Speaker of the House of Representatives is accused of pushing fellow Rep. Tim Burchett during a physical altercation in Congress
The confrontation on the Senate side was sparked by O’Brien challenging Mullin to a fight on Twitter in June, when he called him a ‘clown’ and a fraud.” ‘You know where to find me. Cowboy anytime, anywhere,” O’Brien warned.
Mullin used his questions to confront O’Brien and read some tweets.
“Sir, this is a time, this is a place. Do you want to run your mouth? We can be two consenting adults – we can finish it here,” Mullin said.
‘Okay, that’s fine. Perfect,” O’Brien replied.
“You want to do it right now,” Mullin replied.
“I’d like to do it now,” O’Brien said.
“Then stand up straight,” Mullin replied, telling O’Brien to stand up.
Sanders then jumped in, banged the gavel and told Mullin, “You’re a United States Senator, sit down.”
“This is a hearing, and God knows the American people have enough contempt for Congress, let’s not…”
Mullin and O’Brien then interrupted him and started yelling at each other again.
Tuesday’s near-fight isn’t the first time the two have almost clashed.
During a Senate Health, Education and Labor Committee hearing in March, O’Brien accused Mullin of being a “greedy CEO.”
The senator replied, “Shut up.”
Mullin is the freshman senator from Okalhoma. He was elected to the Senate in 2022 after serving in the House of Representatives since 2013.