In a remarkable display of unity, American late-night television titans Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel have launched a blistering joint offensive against former President Donald Trump. The comedic heavyweights dedicated significant portions of their flagship shows to dissecting and condemning Trump's alleged derogatory comments about US veterans.
The firestorm was ignited by a forthcoming book from journalist and author Ramin Setoodeh, which claims Trump privately referred to fallen American soldiers as "suckers" and "losers." These allegations, first reported by The Atlantic in 2020, have been vehemently denied by Trump and his campaign team.
Colbert's The Late Show Takes Aim
Stephen Colbert, hosting The Late Show, did not hold back. "Donald Trump hates veterans," he stated unequivocally, framing the issue as a matter of profound disrespect. Colbert meticulously contrasted Trump's alleged private contempt with his public persona, highlighting what he described as a stark hypocrisy.
He played a clip of Trump publicly praising veterans before launching into a searing critique. "He loves them so much he calls them suckers and losers," Colbert quipped, his tone shifting from comedic to solemn. "The man who said avoiding STDs was his own personal Vietnam… thinks that the people who actually fought in Vietnam are losers."
Kimmel's Emotional Monologue
Over on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the host adopted a more personal and emotionally charged approach. Kimmel, known for his passionate advocacy on healthcare issues, directed a question straight to the camera at Trump himself.
"What is it about people who volunteer to risk their lives for this country that makes them losers?" he demanded. Kimmel challenged the former president's character, suggesting that true cowardice lies not in military service but in avoiding it—a clear reference to Trump's disputed bone spurs deferment during the Vietnam War.
He concluded his powerful monologue with a biting remark that encapsulated the sentiment of both shows: "The only sucker here is anyone who believes a word this man says."
A History of Denial and Political Fallout
The allegations are not new but have been thrust back into the spotlight by Setoodeh's book, Apprentice in Wonderland, which details extensive interviews with Trump. The former president's campaign has fiercely rebutted the claims, labelling them "complete and total garbage" and part of a politically motivated "hoax."
This incident echoes a similar controversy from Trump's 2016 campaign, where he publicly feuded with the Khans, a Gold Star family. The resurfacing of these claims threatens to undermine his efforts to present himself as a staunch supporter of the military and veterans, a key demographic in his voter base.
The coordinated backlash from Colbert and Kimmel, two of the most influential voices in late-night television, ensures this story will dominate political and cultural discussions for days to come, keeping the pressure on Trump as the political season intensifies.
