Late-Night Hosts Take Aim at Trump’s Speech
Former President Donald Trump delivered an address to Congress that quickly became the centerpiece of media scrutiny—and a goldmine for late-night comedians. While his supporters praised the speech as a powerful reaffirmation of conservative values, comedians had a field day dissecting its absurdities. From misleading statements to bizarre claims about “transgender mice”, the night’s biggest takeaway may have been the jokes it inspired.
‘The White POTUS’ – A Made-for-TV Spectacle
Jimmy Kimmel dubbed the speech “a very special episode of ‘The White POTUS,’” setting the tone for an evening of brutal satire. As Trump took the stage, Kimmel quipped about his signature orange glow, saying:
“His speech started late. I guess they were waiting for that last coat of shellac to dry on his face.”
The Trump family’s presence also caught the eye of comedians, with Kimmel joking:
“Members of the Trump family were there: Eric was there, Lara, Don Jr., Jared, Ivanka, even Melania showed up. So Democrats weren’t the only people who hate him there.”
Meanwhile, Jimmy Fallon mocked the theatrics of the event:
“Things got off to a big start when Trump and JD Vance held hands and sang a medley from ‘Wicked.’”
MAGA-Genda and Fact-Checking Failures
Trump’s speech outlined what Kimmel sarcastically called his ‘MAGA-genda’ for the next four years:
“It includes wildly unpopular tariffs, abandoning our allies, buddying up to Russia, tax cuts for the rich and turning Gaza into Atlantic City—all the reasons blue-collar America voted for this man.”
As Trump boasted about America’s supposed resurgence, Kimmel cut through the rhetoric with brutal honesty:
“Trump said our momentum is back, our spirit is back, our pride is back. And not the gay kind, either: the regular pride.”
“What he’s talking about, I have no idea. The stock market’s down, consumer confidence is down, the dollar is down. The only things that are high are egg prices and Elon Musk.”
Meanwhile, Stephen Colbert wrapped up the night’s absurdities with a sharp closer:
“In the end, Trump’s first address to Congress was much like his first six weeks: filled with useful lies, and applauded by useless idiots.”
The Billionaire and Bureaucrat Paradox
One of the night’s most viral moments came when Trump declared: “The days of unelected bureaucrats are over.” The camera then panned to Elon Musk, clapping enthusiastically—a moment that had the late-night hosts howling.
“He told our farmers to have a lot of fun and said the days of unelected bureaucrats are over, with Elon standing right there clapping like an imbecile. Yay for unelected bureaucrats.” — Jimmy Kimmel
“And the days of rule by unelected billionaires have just begun. Elon! Take a bow, Elon! You paid for it.” — Stephen Colbert
The Bigger Picture: 2024 Elections and Trump’s Late-Night Legacy
Beyond the laughter, the speech reinforced Trump’s unbreakable grip on the Republican Party. While his policies may divide the nation, his ability to dominate the news cycle remains unmatched. But as late-night hosts proved, his biggest impact might be fueling comedy gold rather than serious political discourse.
With 2024 on the horizon, the real question remains: Will Trump’s ability to entertain translate into votes, or has his presidency become just another late-night punchline?
