Jay Leno Calls Out Jimmy Kimmel for His "Mean Streak" and Reveals He's Saving His Donald Trump Jokes

"I think that's Jimmy Kimmel's problem," the former Tonight Show host says

Jay Leno may have been off the air for a while, but now he's back and slamming his former competitors in the late-night talk show world.

While promoting his new show, Jay Leno's Garage, the former Tonight Show host opened up about the changing dynamic of late-night television and why he thinks some shows do better than others. In an interview with TV Line, Leno slammed Jimmy Kimmel Live! and the title host because of his purported "mean streak."

"The most element you can have in doing a late night show is kindness. Because the show makes you arrogant," Leno explained. "I think that's Jimmy Kimmel's problem. I think he's a talented guy, I think he's funny. But he has a mean streak, and it comes across."

As for how it "comes across," Leno said some of Kimmel's bits are mean-spirited. "He does this thing where he takes Halloween candy from kids and the kids cry. What am I missing here? It is funny I guess, but it's mean-based," the veteran stand-up comic said.

"I think that's why he's not higher in the ratings."

Kimmel wasn't the only person to walk away unscathed by Leno's comments. The future CNBC show host also revealed that he's saving his Donald Trump jokes for when he makes an appearance on Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show.

"Yeah, I'd like to do them on Jimmy. When I go on The Tonight Show I like to do stand-up. I did the last time. Because I'm a stand-up, I don't just sit on the couch," Leno dished. "I always hated when guests would come on and didn't prepare; they just wanted to talk. You've got to have something, so I never want to do that to a host."

But while the former late-night host was onstage at the Television Critics Association press tour, Leno gave the audience some insight into what he might say about the real estate mogul-turned-politician.

"Well, I mean it's interesting watching this whole thing unfold. I think [Trump] and Jeb Bush are the frontrunners," he said. "And it's kind of like the race between the tortoise and the bad hair…there's a few jokes there."

Leno also happened to quip that Trump's "head is up his ass." So we know where he's, um, headed.