Late-night stars Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert took jabs at President Donald Trump this past Tuesday by appearing on each other’s shows. In a rare crossover event, both hosts somehow managed to make light of Trump’s repeated criticisms of their comedic styles.
Newsweek attempted to reach out to Trump’s camp on Wednesday for a comment but got no reply during typical business hours.
Why This Matters
This humorous collaboration occurs at a critical juncture in the U.S. late-night TV scene, where the lines of network economics, political discourse, and freedom of expression are being redrawn.
These two hosts are no strangers to controversy; both have faced potential cancellations or suspensions, and Trump has often fuelled the already complicated relationship between comedy and politics for viewers across America.
Their high-profile exchange boosts late-night television’s journey amidst political pressure and industry hurdles.
Key Takeaways
On September 30, Colbert jumped aboard Kimmel’s “Brooklyn Week” special on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, leading to Kimmel returning the gesture on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.
This surprising collaboration comes soon after both hosts faced backlash – Colbert with his show’s cancellation by CBS and Kimmel jettisoned temporarily by ABC following recently controversial remarks about political activist Charlie Kirk. Both faced undesired attention from President Trump, who criticized their humor and even teased legal repercussions.
Kimmel kicked off his show with Colbert, quipping, “We figured this was a good way to annoy the president. I’m thrilled to have Stephen here,” in light of Trump’s constant nips at late-night comedians. He also joked that it was “the show the FCC doesn’t want you to watch.”
Meanwhile, during their playful banter, Kimmel didn’t shy away from addressing Trump’s remarks yet again.
“Did you ever picture the President celebrating your unemployment?” Colbert tossed out, and Kimmel shot back: “That son of a b****!”
“Never did I think we’d have a president like this – nor did I want to live through such madness again,” Kimmel reflected earnestly. “The idea that our country’s leader actually gets joy from job losses, that just isn’t what a real leader should do.”
This spat reignited the flames when ABC put Kimmel on pause after his controversial statements about Kirk’s death earlier in September, leading to a larger discourse about the boundaries of political commentary on comedic platforms.
Kimmel, during his talk that raised eyebrows, said, “We hit some shocking lows, with the MAGA crowd working endlessly to label the kid who killed Charlie Kirk as anything but one of theirs, trying to score cheap political points.”
Following public outrage and support from celebrities, Nexstar and Sinclair sources briefly pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from airing before reverting back to regular scheduling.
Reactions
Trump took to Truth Social to express his discontent: “I can’t believe ABC’s phony news network gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. At first, ABC informed us his show was finished! Somehow things changed – they went from having him cancelled to whatever this is. His audience is gone, and he’s not funny! Why would you welcome back a comedian who jeopardizes your network? It seems he’s part of the DNC, and in my books, that amounts to an illegal contribution for their campaigns. And I hear ABC is ripe for another test run, we’ll see how that goes!”
Kimmel shared a humorous story about receiving the suspension news: “I was in the bathroom when the call came through. It’s typically when I can find some privacy! They wanted to know how I felt, shared their worries about my segment, and decided it was best to take the show off air.”
“I emerged from that bathroom in pure shock, knowing that the whole audience was just waiting for the show to roll,” Kimmel described.
Colbert chimed in with his worries about sharing the bad news with his team: “I was so stressed, drenched through my shirt, not wanting to reveal anything unexpected to my staff.”
What’s Next?
The fate of late-night TV in the U.S. hangs in a delicate balance. With The Late Show With Stephen Colbert scheduled to end in May 2026, ongoing threats from President Trump mean the whirlwind between his office and late-night stars is far from over.
