After Donald J. Trump’s stunning victory in the 2024 presidential race, as well as decisive victories in the House and Senate, the reactions from late-night TV hosts were nothing short of dramatic. Known for their comedic takes on politics, the late-night talk show circuit—which has become a bastion of liberal commentary—quickly shifted from jokes to palpable dismay as the reality of Trump’s second term began to sink in.
The hosts, who had spent years mocking Trump’s policies, behavior, and character, suddenly found themselves facing a reality they had not anticipated—a second term for the man they had hoped was a temporary blip in American history.
Breitbart News reports:
Late-night comedians Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert experienced emotional meltdowns Wednesday in their first broadcasts after President-elect Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the presidential election. Kimmel held back tears in what was clearly a difficult show for the comedian, who has devoted much airtime in recent years to bashing Trump and his supporters.
Colbert began his monologue, “Well, f**k. It happened… again. After a bizarre and vicious campaign fueled by a desperate need not to go to jail, Donald Trump has won the 2024 election…All day yesterday, I was walking around proudly wearing my ‘I voted’ sticker. Today, I wore my ‘I am questioning my fundamental belief in the goodness of humanity’ sticker.”
“They give those out. They give those out at the bake sale right outside. Now, as a late night host, people often say to me, ‘Come on, part of you has gotta want Trump to win because he gives you so much material to work with!. No. No. No one tells the guy who cleans the bathroom, ‘Wow, you must love it when someone has explosive diarrhea. There’s so much material for you to work with!’”
In Jimmy Kimmel’s address to his audience, he lamented, on the verge of tears, “Let’s be honest. It was a terrible night last night. It was a terrible night for women, for children, for the hundreds of thousands of hard working immigrants who make this country go, for health care, for our climate, for science, for journalism, for justice, for free speech. It was a terrible night for poor people, for the middle class, for seniors who rely on Social Security, for our allies in Ukraine, for NATO, for the truth and democracy and decency.”
The despair exhibited by late night hosts is exemplary of a trend within progressive circles. Liberal elites have long blamed a combination of misinformation, voter apathy, and even Russian interference for Trump’s initial win in 2016, but as Trump secured a second term, these excuses rang increasingly hollow. For late-night hosts, this wasn’t just an election loss; it was a reckoning with the limits of their influence and a stark reminder of how divided the country truly is.
In the meantime, the late-night shows will likely continue to be a platform for liberal catharsis, even as the hosts struggle to find a way forward in the aftermath of their most devastating political defeat in modern history.
Oh…are poor little Jimmy and Stevie feeling upset because they did not get their way? Too bad the American public spoke LOUDLY.
The Battle is not over, it has just began. In the end its good vs evil. Trump won the first battle and he will win the war, God is on his side. 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
The mistake was not ensuring a clean election in 2020 or Trump would not have even been running this time. We had to make sure the margin was out of reach of the kind of shenanigans we saw repeatedly 4 years ago. There is no truth to any of the bloviating derogations slung at Trump. I do not care for him personally. He was a great President and will be again. The liberals can’t see beyond personality to the effective and benevolent leader that carries it. They are all about form and do not comprehend substance. Or much of anything else. Stand Colbert or Kimmel up against Jack Parr, Johnny Carson or Jay Leno. Not in the same league and neither is Biden or Harris suitable leadership for the country. Leadership, not coercion and empty platitudes. Respect through strength and economic power bring peace. Empty threats and waffling just encourage bullies. We had years of world peace under Eisenhower. Who would mess with him? He spent most of his time on the golf course because he did not have to command through another war. He already won the big one as a General. Earned respect through strength. We should give it another try.
Disgusted…….You are absolutely right and I agree with you 100%. I tried to tell my own sister this. It’s not about his persona. He is not a politician but a fantastic business man and that is what we need. not someone who tries to look pretty and win a popularity contest. Thank heaven there were enough of us who know this to bring him back!! I just hope they have learned their lesson and leave it alone. The only possible thing they could win from messing with him now is the reputation as the party who destroyed America! What a waste of time these past 4 years have been. We only went backwards. I believe he has the right people with him and will do his absolute best to put things back on track. Drill baby drill!!!
Actually Jimmy K., this was a victory for truth. In fact, I expect we will actually hear truthful things from our government for the first time in 4 years. No longer will we hear something like “inflation doesn’t have much of an impact”, or that the demonstrations are mostly peaceful, or that the border has been secure under Biden, or that Biden executed a masterful exit from Afghanistan, and it was cheaper to leave $80B in armaments for our enemies, or that Biden isn’t running a pay for play scheme to enrich his family and himself, or that Hunter’s laptop is actually Russian disinformation. Stuff like that.
Well the late night talkers continue to make fools of themselves but I guess that’s their gig. The voting populace really does not give a rip about their silly rants because they think for themselves and have zero regard for late night host views. I’m one of those retirees that got hurt by the stupid policies of Biden, now Trump will work to correct. Consumer goods, gasoline, housing all up in cost under Biden. Energy costs are up, government decoy continues to grow and the late nighters blame Trump??? Get serious.
this gives them 4 more years of being employed, when trump retires in 4 years, they will have no material for their rantings.
Quote: “even as the hosts struggle to find a way forward in the aftermath of their most devastating political defeat in modern history.”
No need to try, they are mistaken. They completely misunderstand how this country works. We are a Constitutional Republic.
It’s not perfect, but it is much better than the hatred and fear they have been spreading. We all need to think and dream.
It was a GREAT night for America. I cannot imagine another four years of Kamala’s word salads. The woman can spend five minutes answering a question and never say anything related to the question.
We thank Heaven for President Trump’s victory! He was one of the best presidents we’ve ever had and will be even better this time. Late night show hosts are nobodies and we couldn’t care less what they say or think.
Wait…. Could it possibly be that these so-called celebrities are out of step with the rest of the country? Perhaps that’s why Gutfeld is beating you in the ratings.