Seth Meyers fired back after being labeled a 'deranged lunatic' by former President Donald Trump, and the exchange is as bizarre as it is revealing. But here's where it gets controversial: while Trump’s insult-laden post targeted Meyers’ talent and sanity, the late-night host flipped the script, turning the spotlight back on Trump’s own obsessions—from bathroom renovations during a government shutdown to his seemingly endless fascination with aircraft carrier catapults. And this is the part most people miss: Meyers didn’t just defend himself; he used the moment to highlight the stark contrast between Trump’s priorities and the pressing issues facing millions of Americans, like the looming loss of SNAP benefits.
During Monday’s episode of Late Night With Seth Meyers, the host took his signature 'Closer Look' segment to dissect Trump’s recent social media tirade. Trump had called Meyers ‘the least talented person to perform live in the history of television’ and criticized him for ‘talking endlessly about electric catapults on aircraft carriers.’ Meyers, a Saturday Night Live veteran, didn’t shy away from addressing the attack, but with a twist. ‘You can say I’m untalented. You can say I’m deranged,’ he quipped. ‘But I’m not the one obsessed with catapults on aircraft carriers!’ He then played a montage of Trump’s own speeches dating back to 2019, where the former president repeatedly discussed the very same topic. ‘Until you mentioned it, I didn’t even know aircraft carriers had catapults,’ Meyers joked, feigning indignation.
Meyers also pointed out the irony in Trump’s claim that he had just watched Late Night for the first time in ‘years,’ despite posting 10 months ago that he ‘got stuck’ watching it for the first time in ‘months.’ Here’s the bold question: Is Trump’s fixation on his media critics a distraction from his own policy failures, or is it a genuine grudge? Meyers didn’t hold back, suggesting that Trump’s attacks on the media are a smokescreen for his inability to address critical issues like the government shutdown and food assistance funding.
‘I don’t wanna talk about catapults. I don’t wanna talk about bathrooms,’ Meyers said, his tone shifting to sincerity. ‘But that’s what you do to us. You make us talk about what you’re talking about, and then we all sound crazy.’ He then pivoted to the heart of the matter: ‘What we should be talking about is the government shutdown you’re not solving or the food assistance you refuse to fund. Working families are struggling while you renovate your bathroom and build your ballroom. That’s why your approval ratings are in the toilet.’
Meyers acknowledged that Trump’s insults are protected under the First Amendment—‘Which I have too, right? We all have it, right?’ he double-checked with a smile. But he also reminded viewers that free speech comes with responsibility, especially for public figures. And here’s the thought-provoking question for you: Is Trump’s relentless focus on personal attacks and trivial obsessions a symptom of a larger problem in political discourse, or is it just another day in the Trump playbook? Let’s discuss in the comments—agree or disagree, but let’s keep it civil and insightful.
