Late night hosts roast Trump's White House return, from his balcony scene to the 'strongman propaganda'
"After spending four days in the hospital, last night President Trump arrived back at the White House — and it was quite a scene," Jimmy Fallon said on Tuesday's Tonight Show. Climbing 22 stairs then ripping off his mask is "the craziest thing he's ever done on that balcony, and that's the same place where he looked straight into an eclipse."
Trump's balcony scene "was quite a spectacle," but "I gotta say, he might have left the hospital too early," Late Night's Seth Meyers said. "Usually when people breathe like that, it's right before they ask you if you have a cat."
"Trump wanted this to be a show of strength, but moments after taking off his mask, he was clearly struggling to breathe," Stephen Colbert said at The Late Show. Every bit of his flamboyant return "was just pure strongman propaganda," and "it really seemed like it was propaganda when they released it as propaganda." But Trump is showing signs of normalcy, he said, probably because "he is jacked to the nards on the steroid dexamethasone. Steroids can make you feel invincible."
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.
Dexamethasone also has stranger side effects, too, The Late Show illustrated with help from the "psychosis goldfish."
"Typhoid Donny" is clearly "all hopped up on dexamethasone," since "only an egomaniac on massive amounts of drugs would ever even think to stage" that "dramatic balcony scene," Jimmy Kimmel said on Kimmel Live. But "did you notice how when it was his life in danger, he didn't consult that crazy doctor he retweeted who said COVID came from demon sperm, he didn't pop hydroxychloroquine or inject bleach or bring Diamond and Silk in to sass the virus away. No, he relied on science to save him. Let's not forget that that: When the man wanted to save his own life, he went straight to science, he had 10 doctors pumping his body with every drug available — and we paid for it. I'd say he got his $750 worth of tax money."
"At least now we know how Trump is going to try to spin this whole episode," Trevor Noah said at The Daily Show. "It's not that he was so reckless and ignorant that he got himself and possibly many other people dangerously sick, it's that as a leader, he was brave enough to confront the virus head on."
The Late Late Show's James Corden turned Trump's "maybe I'm invincible" boast into a Paul McCartney song. Watch below. Peter Weber
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
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.
-
5 brain-busting cartoons about RFK Jr.
Cartoons Artists take on candidate suitability, the Kennedy family, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Right to roam: the battle to access England's green spaces
The Explainer A battle is being fought over access to England's green spaces
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: May 12, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published