Late night hosts marvel at Trump's brazen Jan. 6 riot confessions
"Over the weekend, former President Trump held a rally in Texas where he talked about running for president and said that if he won, he might pardon the Jan. 6 rioters," Jimmy Fallon said on Monday's Tonight Show. "Even the rioters were like, 'Oh, no, I don't think you can say that. No.' Yeah, there's no better way to announce a presidential run than saying: 'I'll empty the jails!'"
Trump said "he will consider pardoning the people charged with participation in the Capitol attack," Seth Meyers said on Late Night. "'In that case, I was there,' said Ghislaine Maxwell."
Seriously, "what a weird platform to run on for president: 'I will pardon violent criminals,'" Stephen Colbert said on The Late Show. "While the Jan. 6 select committee continues to look for the cause of the Capitol riot, the cause admitted to everything and threatened to do it again."
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.
"A bipartisan group of senators is trying to make sure it never happens again," Colbert said, and he had a 7-year-old read Trump's telling response. "He just said the secret words, 'Overturn the election!' That's admitting he tried to stage a violent coup. Johnny, tell the people what he gets!'" You may be disappointed with the answer.
"Donald Trump is the greatest con man of all time," Trevor Noah marveled on The Daily Show. "He could have pardoned all his people when Jan. 6 happened," but "he let them get prosecuted, and now they're all going to jail." And now Trump wants more. "You gotta admit, Trump leans on his supporters really hard," he said. "I mean, first they had to storm the Capitol because he lost the election. Then their donations went to his legal fees, because he's always getting sued. Now they have to protest if he gets charged?" Noah suggested an uncomfortable next step if Trump goes to jail.
Jimmy Kimmel laughed at Trump's assertion New York and Georgia prosecutors are going after his fans. "No, they're after you," he said on Kimmel Live. "You know, personally, if I had gotten away with trying to overthrow democracy, I'd be quiet about it, I'd shut up. But Donald Trump isn't capable of that." He compared Trump's new defense of the Jan. 6 rioters versus his condemnation on Jan. 7. "Now I don't know which Donald Trump to believe!" Kimmel deadpanned.
The Late Show also created its own Spotify playlist in homage to Joe Rogan.
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.
-
Was the Azerbaijan Airlines plane shot down?
Today's Big Question Multiple sources claim Russian anti-aircraft missile damaged passenger jet, leading to Christmas Day crash that killed at least 38
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Ukraine hints at end to 'hot war' with Russia in 2025
Talking Points Could the new year see an end to the worst European violence of the 21st Century?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
What does the FDIC do?
In the Spotlight Deposit insurance builds confidence in the banking system
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Top Russian general killed in Moscow blast
Speed Read A remote-triggered bomb killed Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, the head of Russia's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defense
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Why Assad fell so fast
The Explainer The newly liberated Syria is in an incredibly precarious position, but it's too soon to succumb to defeatist gloom
By The Week UK Published
-
NATO chief urges Europe to arm against Russia
Speed Read Mark Rutte said Putin wants to 'wipe Ukraine off the map' and might come for other parts of Europe next
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New Syria government takes charge, urging 'stability'
Speed Read The rebel forces that ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad announced an interim government
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Romania's election rerun
The Explainer Shock result of presidential election has been annulled following allegations of Russian interference
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Russia's shadow war in Europe
Talking Point Steering clear of open conflict, Moscow is slowly ratcheting up the pressure on Nato rivals to see what it can get away with.
By The Week UK Published
-
South Korea roiled by short-lived martial law
Speed Read President Yoon Suk Yeol's imposition of martial law was a 'clear violation of the constitution,' said the opposition parties who have moved to impeach him
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Syrian rebels seize Aleppo in surprise offensive
Speed Read The rebels made gains against President Bashar al-Assad’s forces and reignited Syria's 13-year-old civil war
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published