This past week has been a repeat rollercoaster of headlines thanks to the “Epstein Files”, which have taken center stage in the news once again, giving late-night hosts abundant material to work with.
The initial reveal came when Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly informed President Donald Trump that his name popped up multiple times in these controversial documents. Immediately, the likes of Stephen Colbert to Jimmy Kimmel jumped in with sharp jokes.
Colbert had a good line on CBS’ “The Late Show”: “You know how they say, ‘There’s no such thing as bad publicity’? Yeah, they’re definitely not talking about this situation!”
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Meanwhile, on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” new host Josh Johnson didn’t hold back either. “If you’re best pals with a pedophile for a decade, that stays with you forever,” he remarked. The link between Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, the financier who faced serious allegations of sex trafficking before his death, has long been a talking point. After Epstein’s controversial passing in jail, conspiracy theories erupted, but still, Trump has distanced himself from Epstein even while being criticized for not making those related documents public when he could have.
Johnson further emphasized, “Trump surely knew he’d be mentioned in the files. It’s like a sign — if someone acts suspicious, they’re likely guilty.” He joked, “No one ever says, ‘Don’t check my browser history — you might find all the charities I support!'”
The conversation took a sharper turn following Bondi’s remarks, especially after a recent Wall Street Journal story hinted that Trump doodled something rather crude for Epstein’s 50th birthday card, which is apparently adding fuel to the fire.
Seth Meyers, on NBC’s “Late Night,” mimicked Trump, joking, “I can’t believe I was friends with him for just about 15 years!”
As the jokes rolled on, Jimmy Fallon, whose “Tonight Show” precedes Meyers, didn’t miss the opportunity to chime in. “So, the big conference right now is about Trump’s maneuvering around the Epstein documents, and there’s just been newly surfaced footage showing Epstein at Trump’s second wedding back in 1993!” he shared. “You’ve got the bride, the groom, and the groomer!”
Fallon followed that up with a quip about Trump’s wedding vows, saying, “In classic Trump fashion, he ended with, ‘Till suspicious death do us part,'” hinting at the widely debated narrative surrounding Epstein’s demise, although the Department of Justice has rolled out its own denial about any such theories.
The fact that late-night shows are taking aim at Trump isn’t surprising; he’s always been a popular target for comedians. And it’s mutual—Trump recently took a swipe at them on his Truth Social, calling them “talentless” and accusing them of ruining television for millions.
The past week has been quite a ride for the late-night scene overall. Colbert recently dropped the news that his show will end after one more season, shaking up the whole industry, with some suggesting that his frequent critiques of Trump might be inserting complications, especially with Paramount wanting to keep things cozy with the Biden administration in light of their impending merger with Skydance Media.
This piece originally ran on USA TODAY: Late-night hosts burst with laughs stemming from the Trump-Epstein revelations.
