Current:Home > InvestJimmy Kimmel, more late-night hosts 'shocked' by Trump Cabinet picks: 'Goblins and weirdos' -Elite Financial Minds
Jimmy Kimmel, more late-night hosts 'shocked' by Trump Cabinet picks: 'Goblins and weirdos'
View
Date:2025-04-26 06:41:34
The era of late-night jokes about the Trump administration has officially returned.
Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers on Wednesday had a field day with President-elect Donald Trump's latest picks for his Cabinet. Some of the incoming president's selections announced in recent days have been unexpected and controversial, including former Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general (he's facing a House ethics investigation over sexual misconduct allegations).
In another surprise pick, Trump nominated Fox News host Pete Hegseth as his Defense secretary.
"You will not believe some of the people (Trump) wants to hire," Kimmel told viewers. "We thought it would be crazy. It is so much crazier than anyone ever imagined."
The comedian, who previously held back tears in his monologue after Trump's election win, mocked the idea of Hegseth serving as Defense secretary.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
"There's nothing more intimidating than a morning talk-show host," he said sarcastically. "It's why Regis (Philbin) was so valuable to JFK during the Cuban Missile Crisis."
Kimmel also joked that former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard becoming Trump's director of national intelligence "could interfere with her other job working for Russian national intelligence." But these "wild" picks seem "reasonable" compared to Trump's selection of Gaetz for attorney general, he argued.
"In a lot of jobs, being investigated for sex trafficking underage girls would hurt your chance for advancement, but in the Trump administration, you can list it on your resume under special skills."
Jimmy Kimmelfights back tears discussing Trump's election win: 'It was a terrible night'
Stephen Colbert 'shocked' by Matt Gaetz AG pick, calls Hegseth nom 'stupefying'
Stephen Colbert wasn't any less dismayed about the way the second Trump administration is taking shape.
Declaring that Trump's second term is "already way worse" than his first before it even begins, the "Late Show" host was aghast by the "horrifying" idea of Gaetz becoming attorney general.
"During the campaign, I thought if Trump won, he would do the worst things I could imagine. Turns out, I don't have much of an imagination. There is not enough botox in the world to hide how shocked I am. There's also not enough botox in the world because Matt Gaetz used all of it."
Colbert wasn't happy with Gabbard becoming director of national intelligence, either.
Noting that she was once a guest on his show, he quipped, "When I think Tulsi Gabbard, the word 'intelligence' is not the first one that comes to mind — or the second."
Dick Van Dykesays he 'fortunately' won't be around for Trump's second presidency
But the comic said that before these nominations, he was expecting to lead with the "outrageous" and "stupefying" news that Hegseth was picked to be Trump's Defense secretary.
In reference to Hegseth's job as co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend, he joked, "If we have a war on a weekday, he won't know what to do!"
Seth Meyers derides Trump's Cabinet of 'goblins and weirdos'
Meanwhile, Seth Meyers panned Trump's "Cabinet of crazy people" in a "Closer Look" segment, also describing it as a group of "goblins and weirdos."
In particular, Meyers dismissed Hegseth as an "insane choice" for Defense secretary and suggested he needed "unearned confidence" to say yes to the job "with zero government experience."
In addition to his job on Fox, Hegseth is also a military veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Meyers also listed off a series of TV characters or personalities who he joked could be added to the administration next, including Lionel Hutz from "The Simpsons" as attorney general and "Cash Cab" host Ben Bailey as secretary of transportation.
Cardi B, Joe Rogan,Stephen King and more stars react to Trump election win: 'America is done'
Striking a more serious tone, the "Late Night" host concluded, "One thing is clear from these appointments: Trump will not feel restrained in his second term. He's hiring oligarchs and TV personalities for powerful government positions."
All major late-night hosts shared their initial reactions to Trump's election win last Wednesday, with Kimmel saying his kids were "very upset" by the results.
Colbert also said it was "really hard to see a bright side," and Meyers told his audience, "We're about to step over the precipice into truly uncharted territory."
veryGood! (582)
Related
- Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
- At UN climate talks, cameras are everywhere. Many belong to Emirati company with a murky history
- Arkansas will add more state prison beds despite officials’ fears about understaffing
- Online scamming industry includes more human trafficking victims, Interpol says
- The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room
- Maine’s congressional delegation calls for Army investigation into Lewiston shooting
- Greyhound bus service returns to Mississippi’s capital city
- Nacua and Flowers set for matchup of top rookie receivers when the Rams visit Ravens
- Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
- Rick Rubin on taking communion with Johnny Cash and why goals can hurt creativity
Ranking
- The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
- China is hardening against dissent, rights groups say as they mark International Human Rights Day
- Save 56% On the Magical Good American Jeans That Still Fit Me After 30 Pounds of Weight Fluctuation
- Man who killed bystander in Reno gang shootout gets up to 40 years in prison
- See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
- Post-summit news conferences highlight the divide between China and the EU
- Alo Yoga's 40% Off Sale Has Bras Starting at $34 & We Can't Click Fast Enough
- Kids are losing the Chuck E. Cheese animatronics. They were for the parents, anyway
Recommendation
Could your smelly farts help science?
International bodies reject moves to block Guatemala president-elect from taking office
Bo Nix's path to Heisman finalist: from tough times at Auburn to Oregon stardom
Ukraine condemns planned Russian presidential election in occupied territory
Have Dry, Sensitive Skin? You Need To Add These Gentle Skincare Products to Your Routine
The EU wants to put a tax on emissions from imports. It’s irked some other nations at COP28
Bo Nix's path to Heisman finalist: from tough times at Auburn to Oregon stardom
At UN climate talks, cameras are everywhere. Many belong to Emirati company with a murky history