President Donald Trump recently criticized late-night television host Seth Meyers, suggesting the NBC comedian’s on-air satire might be illegal. Trump aired his grievances on Truth Social on Saturday, November 1, 2025, targeting Meyers’ comedic portrayals of his administration.
Trump wrote, “Seth Meyers of NBC may be the least talented person to ‘perform’ live in the history of television,” labeling the mockery as “probably illegal.” Trump’s verbatim quote continued: “NO TALENT, NO RATINGS, 100% ANTI TRUMP, WHICH IS PROBABLY ILLEGAL!!!”
In a recent “Late Night with Seth Meyers” episode, Meyers poked fun at a speech by Trump regarding his preference for steam-powered catapults over modern electric ones on U.S. aircraft carriers. Meyers joked: “Guy spends more time thinking about catapults than Wile E. Coyote.”
This criticism arose as Trump faced backlash over a Great Gatsby-themed Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago on Friday, October 31, 2025. Attendees wore 1920s-inspired attire, and the theme was “a little party never killed nobody,” noted by several reports.
The event timing drew criticism from Democratic leaders, occurring just before the lapse in funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on November 1. Approximately 42 million Americans depend on this program, particularly during the ongoing government shutdown.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom criticized the party, stating on social media that Trump held a Great Gatsby event while SNAP benefits were on the verge of ending for millions. “He does not give a damn about you,” Newsom commented.
Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy shared similar views, noting Trump’s indifference to the plight of Americans. California Rep. Ro Khanna criticized Trump for hosting parties for billionaires while SNAP benefits expired, urging lawmakers to tax the wealthy and feed those in need.
Prominent figures attended the Mar-a-Lago party, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ivanka Trump, Tiffany Trump, and their spouses. Guests were entertained by dancers in era-appropriate costumes, though Trump did not make formal remarks while reporters were present.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly defended Trump, stating, “These Democrats are full of it.” She claimed that Trump had urged Democrats to act responsibly and reopen the government, a decision they could make at any time.
Legal issues concerning SNAP funding progressed quickly on Friday. A federal judge in Rhode Island issued a temporary order to maintain SNAP funding following a lawsuit by several states. Another judge in Boston ruled the administration’s attempt to suspend funding was unlawful but did not order immediate funding.
Trump addressed the court rulings, indicating uncertainty among his administration’s attorneys about their legal authority to fund SNAP during the shutdown. He expressed a desire for a swift court resolution, noting he did not want Americans to go hungry due to the government being closed.
As of November 3, 2025, the Trump administration agreed to allocate 50% of SNAP benefits using contingency funds in response to federal court orders.
Between September and November 2025, Trump increased his criticism of late-night talk show hosts who he believes attack him or his administration. A notable incident occurred in mid-September when ABC temporarily suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s show following his September 15 monologue criticizing conservative reactions to the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Kimmel stated, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.” Trump praised the suspension, calling Kimmel “not a talented person; he had very bad ratings” and suggested networks with negative coverage of him “should maybe” have their broadcast licenses revoked, claiming “97 percent” of stories about him were negative.
During this period, Trump also criticized Stephen Colbert and other late-night hosts. He expressed approval of the planned 2026 cancellation of Colbert’s show, stating he “absolutely love[s] that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings.” Meanwhile, hosts such as Colbert and Jon Stewart accused the Trump administration of authoritarian actions following the Kimmel incident, with Colbert referring to the situation as “blatant censorship” and Stewart likening it to a dictatorship.
Trump continues to portray the satire from these hosts as not merely comedic but part of a broader systemic bias against him in mainstream media.
