Seth Meyers on Trump: ‘Even I didn’t think he would turn the government off’

Late-night hosts spoke about the much-criticised decision from Donald Trump to freeze federal grants and loans and the pushback that came soon after.

Seth Meyers

On Late Night, Seth Meyers spoke about the “intense nationwide backlash” that followed the controversial decision by the returning president.

He played clips of JD Vance talking about the desire to “seize the administrative state” on a podcast. “If you’re ever wondering if a plan is evil, the word seize is a dead giveaway,” he said.

He also added: “It’s a real sign of the time that all the nefarious schemes of people in power are now announced on a podcast.”

Meyers said that while he had “very low expectations” for Trump’s first week, “even I didn’t think he would turn the government off”.

He spoke about the “mass confusion and chaos” that followed the freeze, which was then explained by Trump’s press secretary as a way to cut diversity, equity and inclusion programs and defund gender operations and wokeness. “I’m so tired of all these woke firefighters,” he said while displaying a headline that showed how the cuts were affecting local firehouses.

Meyers said that it “kicked sluggish Democrats into gear” comparing them to the Avengers before playing a clip that said they would actually meet about it the day after. “Sorry the Avengers can’t assemble until tomorrow,” he joked.

Stephen Colbert

On The Late Show, Stephen Colbert began by saying that “every day under Donald Trump brings its own bespoke, artisanal bakery fresh hell”.

He also spoke about the decision to freeze federal grants but then how it was rescinded after outcry. “Take that Trump … something didn’t get worse,” he said.

Colbert also spoke about the incentives offered to federal workers to quit their jobs in a widely circulated latter. “Is there any chance I’m a federal worker?” he joked.

The letter left the situation unclear with vague threats turning into outright threats, the wording seeming to suggest that they would be “trying to make conditions so bad for federal workers that they’ll just quit”.

He called it “the Dutch oven theory of employment”.

Jimmy Kimmel

On Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the host spoke about “another weird day in Washington” as Robert F Kennedy Jr sat through difficult questions in his confirmation hearings to become the secretary for health and human services. “Bob and his brain worm answered questions for three and a half hours,” he said.

Kimmel said it was “rocky to say the least”.

He played a clip of Bernie Sanders confronting him over a series of onesies sold via a foundation that he was a major part of that promoted the idea that babies shouldn’t be vaccinated.

Sanders asked: “Are you supportive of these onesies?”

Kimmel said “that’s a question I never thought I would hear Bernie Sanders ask”, before saying that Kennedy “did not denounce the onesies”.

He also spoke about the “self-made mess” that caused “all hell to break loose” with Trump’s attempt to cut federal funds while also threatening federal workers. The talk of payouts for anyone who chooses to leave has Kimmel skeptical. “He’ll probably pay them in Melania meme coin,” he said.

He also played a clip where Trump claimed that taxpayer money was being spent on “condoms for Hamas” and joked that “whoever’s writing his lies for him this time deserves a raise”.

The past week has also seen many people “erroneously hassled” over their citizenship, including many Native Americans. “Imagine asking a Native American if you’re here illegally,” he said.

Kimmel called it “the Trumpiest thing Trump has ever Trumped”.

The president also claimed that thanks to him, the “water is flowing big time” in California to combat the wildfires, but his “dumb claim was shot down” by a Fox News journalist. “No cabinet position for you,” he joked.