Current:Home > InvestJimmy Kimmel, more late-night hosts 'shocked' by Trump Cabinet picks: 'Goblins and weirdos' -NextWave Wealth Hub
Jimmy Kimmel, more late-night hosts 'shocked' by Trump Cabinet picks: 'Goblins and weirdos'
View
Date:2025-04-23 16:21:47
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! (25)
Related
- SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
- Met Gala: Everything to know about fashion's biggest night – and the sleeping beauties theme
- Amazon cloud computing unit plans to invest $11 billion to build data center in northern Indiana
- Fifth arrest made in connection to deaths of 2 Kansas women
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Oklahoma prosecutors charge fifth member of anti-government group in Kansas women’s killings
- Trump Media asks lawmakers to investigate possible unlawful trading activity in its DJT stock
- Chinese student given 9-month prison sentence for harassing person posting democracy leaflets
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Change of Plans
Ranking
- SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
- Maine sheriff’s fate rests with governor after commissioners call for his firing
- Why Cleveland Browns don't have first-round pick in NFL draft (again), and who joins them
- A hematoma is more than just a big bruise. Here's when they can be concerning.
- What were Tom Selleck's juicy final 'Blue Bloods' words in Reagan family
- New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
- Key moments in the Supreme Court’s latest abortion case that could change how women get care
- Google fires more workers over pro-Palestinian protests held at offices, cites disruption
Recommendation
Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
Tesla Fell Behind, Then Leapt Ahead of ExxonMobil in Market Value This Week
Biden meets 4-year-old Abigail Mor Edan, the youngest American hostage released by Hamas
Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso give Chicago, WNBA huge opportunity. Sky owners must step up.
Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
NFL draft best available players: Ranking top 125 entering Round 1
Christina Applegate Explains Why She’s Wearing Adult Diapers After Sapovirus Diagnosis
Authorities confirm 2nd victim of ex-Washington officer was 17-year-old with whom he had a baby