Here's What Porn Star Stormy Daniels Said About Donald Trump on Jimmy Kimmel Live - TIME

Here's What Porn Star Stormy Daniels Said About Donald Trump on Jimmy Kimmel Live

By ASHLEY HOFFMAN Updated: January 31, 2018 8:30 AM ET

The porn star Stormy Daniels, real name Stephanie Clifford, seemed to do everything with Jimmy Kimmel Tuesday night except confirm that she had an affair with Donald Trump. She did, however, seem to deny that she wrote a statement released earlier in the day in which she said a relationship with Trump “never happened.”

The adult film actress stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! for a limited but hint-laden interview following President Trump’s first State of the Union address as part of her publicity tour.

The interview with Stormy Daniels aired weeks after the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump’s personal lawyer paid her $130,000 to stop her from speaking publicly about an alleged sexual relationship that reportedly occurred while Trump was married to Melania in 2006. (Trump’s lawyer Michael D. Cohen has said Trump vehemently denies any relationship.)

Daniels was the most forthcoming when asked about a statement denying the affair that was purportedly from her.

@TomNamako

Stormy Daniels (going on Kimmel tonight after Trump's State of the Union) issues a new statement saying she is denying having an affair with Trump not because of a settlement but because “it never happened.”

She would also like you to follow her on Instagram.

From @a_cormier_

8:55 AM - Jan 31, 2018

@christinawilkie

NEW: Stormy Daniels to @jimmykimmel:

JK: "Did you sign this letter that was released today?"

SD: “Doesn't look like my signature, does it."

JK: “Do you know where it came from? Do you have any idea?”

SD: “I do not.”

Here’s the letter >>

4:41 PM - Jan 31, 2018

Kimmel pointed out that her signature on the statement, released Tuesday afternoon, didn’t match her signature on multiple previous documents – including an autographed headshot.

“I do not know where it came from. It came from the internet,” she said. “That doesn’t look like my signature does it?”

But Kimmel was confident something happened. In between Shark Week talking points, the late night host tried numerous silly, circuitous methods to get Daniels to confirm the reports surrounding her and Trump. Daniels kept tight-lipped — mostly laughing in response to the leading questions.

At one point, Kimmel turned to to his guest and said that if she didn’t have a non-disclosure agreement, she could say she didn’t have a non-disclosure agreement, but if she did have a non-disclosure agreement, she couldn’t say she did. Daniels’ coy response: “You’re so smart, Jimmy.”

@jimmykimmel

Nothing feels more natural than watching the #SOTU with Stormy Daniels

3:07 PM - Jan 31, 2018

Kimmel went on to get down to the details in an interview that the adult film actress reportedly gave to In Touch magazine before she was allegedly given the payout.

The interview details Trump’s alleged sexual relationship with the star. Daniels didn’t confirm the transcript in the interview, but said: “Well, he does have good taste, I guess.”

In an unsuccessful effort to get his straight answer, Kimmel closed by turning to puppet theater featuring doll versions of Clifford and Trump.

Daniels has endeavored to tell her side of the story twice before this: once in 2011 and once again during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Another adult film star claimed that Trump once offered her $10,000 for sex, an account a Trump spokesperson disputed.

Kimmel has emerged as a potent spokesperson for Trump’s critics on late night, taking every opportunity to lay into POTUS, and Tuesday was no exception.