Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert joke about Biden's smackdown of Trump in Jan. 6 speech

"Today is the one-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol," Jimmy Fallon said on Thursday's Tonight Show. "President Biden marked the day with a speech, and he really unloaded on Trump," who he referred to as "a defeated former president." Wow, "Biden is not messing around there," Fallon said. "I know that vibe — that's high school principal after a food-fight vibe. Then just to rub it in, Biden was like, 'I would've DM'ed you, but I couldn't find you on Twitter.'"
"It think it's important that we commemorate and reflect on days like this that so deeply influence the history of this great nation — there's a reason Texas' motto is not 'What's An Alamo?'" Stephen Colbert said on The Late Show, which kicked off with a musical take-down of Trump and other Jan. 6 players. He recalled his shock "at this grotesque tragedy" and the improvisation it demanded of his show, then he ran down Biden's speech, including his stately reference to the feces some protesters smeared on the Capitol walls.
"Biden turned his attention to the actions — or more accurately, the inactions — of his predecessor during the riot," Colbert said. "Then Joe took the gloves off." He was a fan. "Hell, yes! ... I loved that speech today. Truly a powerful speech. That is the Joe Biden I remember, that is the Joe Biden we stole this election for — I mean, voted for."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Predictably, Biden's speech prompted a response" from Trump, Colbert said, and once more he had a 7-year-old read it. He then pointed out that, despite Trump's assertion, Biden never used his name. He played a super-cut of Biden saying "the former president," laughing the line about Trump being "a defeated former president," and jokingly pointed to Biden's "one direct reference to the former president."
"Now there were some notable absences from the ceremonies today," Colbert said. Only two Republicans showed up for a moment of silence for fallen Capitol Police officers, while "the other Republican legislators chose to re-enact Jan. 6 by hiding in fear."
Jimmy Kimmel Live succinctly recapped the Jan. 6 insurrection — and, briefly, other January 6ths in history.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Japan's surname conundrum
Under the Radar Law requiring couples to share one surname hinders women in the workplace and lowers birth rate, campaigners claim
-
How successful would Elon Musk's third party be?
Today's Big Question Musk has vowed to start a third party after falling out with Trump
-
Music reviews: Bruce Springsteen and Benson Boone
Feature "Tracks II: The Lost Albums" and "American Heart"
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities
-
Obama, Bush and Bono eulogize USAID on final day
Speed Read The US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian organization, has been gutted by the Trump administration
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
Senate advances GOP bill that costs more, cuts more
Speed Read The bill would make giant cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, leaving 11.8 million fewer people with health coverage
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami
-
GOP races to revise megabill after Senate rulings
Speed Read A Senate parliamentarian ruled that several changes to Medicaid included in Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" were not permissible