New Delhi, March 26 -- US television host Jimmy Kimmel has found himself at the centre of a social media storm after a joke targeting the newly appointed US Homeland Security chief triggered sharp backlash online.

During a recent monologue, Kimmel took aim at Markwayne Mullin, who has just taken over as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Referring to his professional background, Kimmel joked that the US now had a "plumber protecting us from terrorism," also poking fun at his past as a mixed martial arts fighter.

The remark quickly went viral, especially on X (formerly Twitter), where users were divided over whether the joke was harmless satire or an example of elitism.

Critics argued that the comment appeared to belittle...