President Donald Trump wants “anti-Trump” late-night television hosts to give Republicans “equal” screen time on their shows.
“Late Night host [sic] are dealing with the Democrats for their very ‘unfunny’ & repetitive material, always anti-Trump!” the President tweeted Saturday morning. “Should we get Equal Time?”
“More and more people are suggesting that Republicans (and me) should be given Equal Time on T.V. when you look at the one-sided coverage?” Trump added in a second tweet.
Late Night host Seth Meyers fired back a reply not long after Trump’s tweets, writing: “We’d love to have you! Studio located at 15 Penguin Avenue, Antarctica.”
Not long after, Jimmy Kimmel had some thoughts, tweeting at Trump: “Excellent point Mr. President! You should quit that boring job – I’ll let you have my show ALL to yourself #MAGA.”
Kimmel’s reply prompted a response from the President’s son, Donald Trump Jr.: “Thoughts on Harvey Weinstein? #askingforafriend,” he wrote, referring to a recent sexual harassment reports involving the movie producer, who has given a number of donations to Democratic politicians.
“You mean that big story from the failing, liberal, one-sided @nytimes? I think it is disgusting,” Kimmel fired back.
In response, Trump Jr. tweeted, “Great I look forward to your monologues next week. You’re probably due for a change if only for a moment or two.”
“[G]reat – in the meantime, enjoy this!” Kimmel responded, with a YouTube video of the President’s Access Hollywood tape that leaked exactly a year ago Saturday.
Kimmel and Meyers, along with the likes of Stephen Colbert, Trevor Noah and John Oliver, have used Trump as fodder for jokes throughout his campaign and presidency, at times outright denouncing him for his comments and actions.
NBC’s Jimmy Fallon was criticized for entertaining Trump during the campaign by playfully rubbing the future President’s hair on his show in what many considered to be a “softball interview” with no hard-hitting questions.
Since then, he has toughened up on the President, a stance that was noticeable in the wake of August’s white nationalist rally in Charlottesville.
“The fact that it took the president two days to come out and clearly denounce racists and white supremacists is shameful,” Fallon said during the Tonight Show‘s opening monologue.
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