Seth Meyers criticized President Trump on Monday night’s “Late Night,” addressing the president’s response to the violent white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia — and the host was much harsher on POTUS than usual.
Meyers opened the show by noting Trump’s choice of words on Saturday: “We condemn in strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, and violence — on many sides,” Trump said in a statement.
“On many sides,” Myers repeated. “If that choice of words made you feel sick to your stomach, the good news is you’re a normal and decent person. The jury is still out on the president,” said the host.
“Trump has a permanent hard-on for condemnation,” Meyers said later in his “A Closer Look” segement, pointing out Trump’s recent condemnation of North Korea, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Hillary Clinton. “And yet when it came time to condemn white supremacists and nazis, it was limp d— city.”
Meyers also listed several “racist” and “insane” things Trump has done, like championing the “birther” movement against Barack Obama, calling Mexicans “rapists” and calling Sen Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) “Pocahontas.”
“Donald Trump did not immediately denounce the white supremacist movement when given the chance and now, whether he knows it or not, many of those people see him as leading that movement,” Meyers said.
“You can stand for a nation, or you can stand for a hateful movement,” the “Late Night” host continued. “You can’t do both.”
Meyers said he was confident that American voters will remember Trump’s inability to immediately condemn hatred.
In statements on Monday, two days after the violent white supremacist rallies that ended up killing Heather Heyer, 32, and injuring several others, Trump said, “racism is evil, and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs.”
On Friday, a group of white nationalists gathered to protest the planned removal of a statue of Confederate general Robert. E. Lee. They were met with counter-protestors, and the clashing of the two groups led to violence, which only intensified Saturday. When a vehicle driven by a white nationalist demonstrator plowed into a crowd Saturday, Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old paralegal from Virginia, was killed, and 19 others were injured. More than 30 were hurt in total as a result of events at the rally.
In Trump's First 100 Days, Here Are the 14 Best Late-Night Jokes (Videos)
Late-night TV is in the midst of a renaissance era, afire with jokes about President Donald Trump during his first 100 days in office. Take Seth Meyers, who discussed Trump's first "100 Dayz and Confused," taking a closer look at his unfulfilled promises. He called Paul Ryan by the wrong name and assailed POTUS' plethora of tweets.
Trevor Noah summarized the first week of Trump's presidency, highlighting his infatuation with Fox News and the creation of his own untrue reality.
Following Trump's first press conference, Colbert waded through a mess his responses. Trump got "Devos-ified" and the late-night host ribbed POTUS' gripes over "very fake news" reporters.
Fallon pulled out his famous Trump impression for a segment on his "YUUUGE" wheel of decisions that explain the president's erratic actions.
Using Kellyanne Conway's favorite phrase, Kimmel delivered his version of alternative facts and Trump's need to see a "C-I-A-chiatrist" (you know, a psychiatrist who deals in anxiety brought on by fears of Central Intelligence Agencies).
Alec Baldwin, Kate McKinnon and Beck Bennett won laughs in this "Saturday Night Live" skit that featured POTUS, Steve Bannon and Angela Merkel.
One of John Oliver's most successful segments highlighted the serious problem of "a president capable of standing in the rain and saying it was a sunny day."
In this Conan O'Brien segment, Trump asks Obama for advice on the press, tweeting toilets and his Valentine's Day plan with Putin.
Trevor Noah covered the annual White House Easter Egg Roll -- highlighting Trump forgetting to place his hand on his heart and Steve Bannon's transformation into the Easter Bunny.
Colbert discussed Trump's frequent trips to Mar-a-Lago -- or as he likes to call it, his "timeshare in crazy-town" -- and his accompanying Twitter freak-outs.
After the "in-ugh-uration" and the international shows of solidarity at the Women's March, Meyers covered reactions to the "most popular president since Obama."
In this "SNL" segment, Baldwin as POTUS makes an appearance on the People's Court and battles with the judges of the ninth circuit.
Kimmel compiled footage from several of Trump's meetings of him "moving stuff around"-- and it's funnier than it sounds.
Samantha Bee's coverage of Trump's "hard power budget" criticizes the massive cuts to education and ignorance about climate change, calling Trump's America "figurative hell... might as well make it literal hell too."
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There has been no shortage of material when it comes to POTUS
Late-night TV is in the midst of a renaissance era, afire with jokes about President Donald Trump during his first 100 days in office. Take Seth Meyers, who discussed Trump's first "100 Dayz and Confused," taking a closer look at his unfulfilled promises. He called Paul Ryan by the wrong name and assailed POTUS' plethora of tweets.