TOI correspondent from Washington: America’s liberal late-night comedians closed ranks to parody US President Donald Trump, skewer his administration, and express support for free speech amid fears in non-MAGA ranks that the country’s cherished first amendment is in danger.
“Tonight, we are all Jimmy Kimmel ,” declared Stephen Colbert , whose late-night slot on CBS, like Kimmel’s on ABC, is also being canned because the Trump administration has the leverage to nix parent company Paramount’s business ventures.
On Comedy Central, which is also owned by Paramount, Jon Stewart , who normally only appears on Monday nights, made an exception to tape a “patriotic... government-approved" second episode on Thursday night to support Kimmel’s, using satire to lampoon the MAGA boss.
“We have another fun, hilarious, administration-compliant show,” Stewart began, his eyes darting around in mock fear. He then went on to ridicule Trump’s state visit to U.K, replete with flubs, saying, “Father has been gracing England with his legendary warmth and radiance….Gaze upon him, with a gait even more majestic than that of the royal horses that pranced before him!”
The US President continued to provide fodder for the comedians claiming he stopped numerous wars, including one between “Aberbaijan and Albania” (instead of Azerbaijan and Armenia) and the US is collecting “trillions” in tariffs. As of August 2025, the US was collecting about $ 30 billion per month in tariff revenue, which most economists say will eventually be paid by American consumers.
On NBC, Jimmy Fallon, who along with Seth Meyers -- both identified by Trump as the next ones to be axed -- took mock flattery to another level.
"President Trump just wrapped up his three day trip to the UK, and he looked incredibly handsome. His tie was exactly the right length and his face looked like a color that exists in nature...Anyway, to sum it up, President Trump is making America great again by restoring our national reputation, reinvigorating our economy and rebuilding our military. I hereby nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize," he said, adding, “See? we can still say what we want!’
Meyers took a similar derisive approach. "I just want to say, before we get started here, that I've always admired and respected Mr. Trump. I've always believed he was a visionary, innovator, a great president, an even better golfer. And if you've ever seen me saying anything negative about him, that's just AI,” he joked.
Colbert’s show was “retired” in July after he criticized his platform CBS' parent company, Paramount, for settling a lawsuit with President Trump for $16 million ahead of a merger with Skydance. With a few more episodes of his show remaining before he bows out, he did not hold back against his employers, telling his audience that the settlement was a "big, fat, bribe" to the Trump administration to approve the merger.
Despite their rivalry over awards and ratings, all of them expressed support for Kimmel. "It is a privilege and an honor to call Jimmy Kimmel my friend, in the same way that it's a privilege and honor to do this show every night," Meyers said.
The comity of comedians found support from their comedy emeritus David Letterman who lashed out at ABC for canning Kimmel. “You can’t go around firing somebody because you’re fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian - a criminal- administration in the Oval Office,“ Letterman said.
“Tonight, we are all Jimmy Kimmel ,” declared Stephen Colbert , whose late-night slot on CBS, like Kimmel’s on ABC, is also being canned because the Trump administration has the leverage to nix parent company Paramount’s business ventures.
On Comedy Central, which is also owned by Paramount, Jon Stewart , who normally only appears on Monday nights, made an exception to tape a “patriotic... government-approved" second episode on Thursday night to support Kimmel’s, using satire to lampoon the MAGA boss.
“We have another fun, hilarious, administration-compliant show,” Stewart began, his eyes darting around in mock fear. He then went on to ridicule Trump’s state visit to U.K, replete with flubs, saying, “Father has been gracing England with his legendary warmth and radiance….Gaze upon him, with a gait even more majestic than that of the royal horses that pranced before him!”
The US President continued to provide fodder for the comedians claiming he stopped numerous wars, including one between “Aberbaijan and Albania” (instead of Azerbaijan and Armenia) and the US is collecting “trillions” in tariffs. As of August 2025, the US was collecting about $ 30 billion per month in tariff revenue, which most economists say will eventually be paid by American consumers.
On NBC, Jimmy Fallon, who along with Seth Meyers -- both identified by Trump as the next ones to be axed -- took mock flattery to another level.
"President Trump just wrapped up his three day trip to the UK, and he looked incredibly handsome. His tie was exactly the right length and his face looked like a color that exists in nature...Anyway, to sum it up, President Trump is making America great again by restoring our national reputation, reinvigorating our economy and rebuilding our military. I hereby nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize," he said, adding, “See? we can still say what we want!’
Meyers took a similar derisive approach. "I just want to say, before we get started here, that I've always admired and respected Mr. Trump. I've always believed he was a visionary, innovator, a great president, an even better golfer. And if you've ever seen me saying anything negative about him, that's just AI,” he joked.
Colbert’s show was “retired” in July after he criticized his platform CBS' parent company, Paramount, for settling a lawsuit with President Trump for $16 million ahead of a merger with Skydance. With a few more episodes of his show remaining before he bows out, he did not hold back against his employers, telling his audience that the settlement was a "big, fat, bribe" to the Trump administration to approve the merger.
Despite their rivalry over awards and ratings, all of them expressed support for Kimmel. "It is a privilege and an honor to call Jimmy Kimmel my friend, in the same way that it's a privilege and honor to do this show every night," Meyers said.
The comity of comedians found support from their comedy emeritus David Letterman who lashed out at ABC for canning Kimmel. “You can’t go around firing somebody because you’re fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian - a criminal- administration in the Oval Office,“ Letterman said.
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