Late-night television hosts offered their perspectives on the milestone of Donald Trump’s first 100 days as President of the United States, alongside the outcome of the recent Canadian federal election, each blending political commentary with humour.
Jimmy Kimmel, on his show, marked the 100th day of the Trump administration with a critical tone. He graded Trump’s first 100 days as “somewhere between F and U,” highlighting a contentious start to the presidency. Kimmel referenced an Axios poll showing more than half of Americans consider Trump a “dangerous dictator” needing limitations on his power to protect American democracy. Kimmel noted the unusual instance of Fox News reporting Trump’s poor polling numbers, which drew critical remarks from Trump aide Stephen Miller. Miller cited achievements such as establishing a “department of government efficiency,” declassifying JFK files, ending federal support for paper straws, and ceasing penny production. Kimmel countered these claims with satire, pointing out that the penny had already been discontinued and straws reinstated.
Turning north, Kimmel also commented on the Canadian political scene, noting the victory of Liberal Leader Mark Carney, who secured a fourth consecutive term. He attributed the Liberals’ comeback to resistance against what he described as Trump’s tariffs and takeover threats, framing it as a moment of Canadian resilience. “Don’t mess with Canada,” Kimmel said, “They may be polite, but you tick them off and they’re like John Wick after they killed his dog.”
Stephen Colbert, on The Late Show, similarly reflected on the 100-day mark, drawing historical parallels to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s productivity while delivering a critique through dark humour, saying Trump was “well on his way to bringing back polio.” Citing a poll from NPR, Colbert highlighted the divided public opinion, with 23% rating Trump highly and 45% giving him a failing grade. Colbert also praised the turnaround of the Canadian Liberal party, mentioning their significant deficit earlier in the year that was reversed post-Trump’s election. He paraphrased Carney’s statement to the U.S. government: “President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us. That will never, ever happen,” portraying the message as both firm and measured.
Seth Meyers, hosting Late Night, noted the contrast between Trump’s brief tenure and his frequent golfing. He referenced the Trump Organization’s sale of “Trump 2028” hats, questioning the feasibility of a third-term bid. Meyers also turned to other news items including the Vatican’s announcement of a conclave of 135 cardinals scheduled for May 7 to elect a new pope, making a quip about sports betting losses. He reported on the U.S. federal government’s decision to oversee the renovation of New York’s Penn Station, suggesting it as a project immune to Trump’s influence. Finally, Meyers covered a bizarre incident at Chicago’s Midway airport where a Southwest Airlines passenger was arrested after an unusual disorderly conduct episode during landing.
Together, these late-night hosts provided commentary combining humour and critique on the early phase of the Trump presidency and notable political events, reflecting a varied public dialogue on leadership and international affairs. The Guardian is reporting on these perspectives, capturing the cultural moment at 100 days into the Trump administration and the concurrent Canadian electoral developments.
Source: Noah Wire Services