Late-night hosts discussed the ongoing Minneapolis chaos and how some Republicans are starting to turn against Donald Trump.
Seth Meyers
On Late Night, Seth Meyers spoke about the “intense national backlash from both sides of the aisle” that Trump is facing for his ICE occupation in Minneapolis.
The host said that when Trump and his inner circle got back into power, they thought they could do “whatever they wanted whenever they wanted”, but some found that what Stephen Miller wanted was “much different”.
The homeland security adviser has been reportedly screaming in meetings, demanding a high quota of deportations and even asking officers to raid local businesses.
“No one wants an ICE raid at a Home Depot,” Meyers said, adding that it’s “already bad enough” in there.
To achieve the high goal, the administration has been “lowering recruiting standards” for ICE officers, who have often begun training before they have been properly vetted.
It’s meant that candidates with criminal backgrounds and those who have failed drug tests, written exams or basic fitness tests have been recruited.
With the ICE approval rating down to -27 points, many Republicans are now “changing their tune” on the tactics and Trump is also “now trying to distance himself” by removing Gregory Bovino as border patrol commander at large.
Meyers said they are “pulling back because they lost” after turning “peaceful neigbourhoods into war zones” and not considering the “resilience and solidarity” of local citizens.
“Trump is trying to distance himself from the chaos he created,” he said.
Stephen Colbert
On The Late Show, Stephen Colbert spoke about how Minnesotans have been “terrorised by Trump’s goons” and the nation has been “outraged” with anti-ICE sentiment even appearing in apolitical online spaces.
Kristi Noem, the head of homeland security, called slain nurse Alex Pretti a “domestic terrorist” without evidence, something that even led to Republicans demanding her resignation.
Trump has said he thinks Noem is “doing a very good job” and Colbert added, in character, that there is “no one else I’d rather have everyone blame for my mindless cruelty”.
Noem has tried to blame Miller for her comments while Miller, referring to Pretti as an “assassin”, has said this was based on information from Customs and Border Protection, which is run by Kristi Noem.
Colbert called it “a real snake eating its own tail, which is how I believe Stephen Miller reproduces”.
This week also saw Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar attacked by a man with a liquid substance.
Colbert said his motivation “might have been Donald Trump, might have been Captain Morgan”.
Jimmy Kimmel
On Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the host spoke about the remaining Epstein files, which are finally set to be released after Trump’s cronies have been “deleting the president’s name”.
He said “these people have blatantly ignored the law for the past month” and that “these Epstein files are like Melania’s movie: no one’s ever gonna see them”.
Reports have suggested that for her Amazon documentary, Melania made around $28m. Kimmel jokes that “between this and her marriage, she’s probably the highest-paid actress in the world”.
The film goes up against the Sam Raimi horror flick Send Help, which Kimmel said “would have been a much better title for the documentary”.
This week also saw Trump’s launch party for “Trump Accounts”, which featured celebrities including Cheryl Hines, Kevin O’Leary and “one of the president’s most unlikely fans”, Nicki Minaj.
Kimmel noted she was “the only Black woman in the whole room” and joked: “Where is Cardi B with a fistful of shoes when you need her?”
He also spoke about the backlash to ICE violence in Minneapolis, with Republican Rand Paul calling it out. “It’s weird when you see him tell the truth,” he said. “It’s like when you see a muppet’s legs.”
Germany has also issued an alert calling the US a dangerous place to travel because of Trump. “Now when Germany tells you your government is becoming too authoritarian … ,” Kimmel joked.
