Imagine being called "deranged" by a former President, all for doing your job as a comedian. That's exactly what happened when Donald Trump took aim at "Late Night" host Seth Meyers, sparking a fresh round of the ongoing feud between the two.
In a fiery post on Truth Social on November 1st, Trump didn't hold back, branding Meyers as "the least talented person to 'perform' live in the history of television." He even went further, suggesting Meyers might be the worst performer, period. This tirade was triggered by Meyers' on-air mockery of Trump's recent trip to Asia.
But here's where it gets controversial... What ignited Trump's ire? It was Meyers' comedic take on Trump's fascination with aircraft carrier catapults. Trump, during his trip, had addressed troops in Japan, declaring his intention to issue an executive order to bring back steam-powered catapults. He voiced concerns about the billions being spent on "stupid electric" catapults, claiming he knew a lot about these ships.
Meyers, in his signature style, didn't let that slide. In a segment that quickly went viral, he joked about Trump spending more time thinking about catapults than Wile E. Coyote, quipping, "Guy spends more time thinking about catapults than Wile E. Coyote. Next, he's gonna start complaining about how our troops don't tie themselves to rockets anymore." Meyers even did an impersonation of Trump, exaggerating the idea of strapping soldiers to rockets, mocking the former President's voice and statements about a return to older methods.
And this is the part most people miss: Meyers didn't just stop at the catapults. He also poked fun at Trump's perceived expertise, stating, "Experts say it would cost billions to go back to the old system, but Trump thinks he knows more about aviation than everyone else because he dances like one of those guys that holds the signaling sticks on the runway."
Trump, however, was far from amused. He labeled Meyers a "truly deranged lunatic" and questioned why NBC would waste resources on him. He went on to slam Meyers as having "no talent," "no ratings," and being "100% anti-Trump, which is probably illegal." It's worth noting here, that being "anti-Trump" is not illegal, as it falls under protected speech.
This wasn't the first time Trump had attacked Meyers. Back in August, upon hearing about Meyers' contract renewal with NBC, Trump unleashed a similar barrage of criticism, questioning his ratings, talent, intelligence, and even his personality, which he described as that of "an insecure child."
It's important to remember that Seth Meyers is one of many late-night hosts, including Jimmy Kimmel and Jon Stewart, who have consistently used their platforms to criticize Trump. This is not new, and it's a common feature of the late-night comedy landscape. But does it cross a line?
So, is Trump justified in his outrage, or is this simply a case of a public figure being unable to take a joke? Is Meyers' comedy insightful political commentary, or is it simply cheap shots? And does this kind of back-and-forth ultimately benefit or harm political discourse? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
