Colbert: US Not Heading Toward Dictatorship, but on a Troubled Course

Late-night talk show hosts have recently addressed Donald Trump's actions, including his attempts to influence Harvard University.

Stephen Colbert

On The Late Show, Stephen Colbert discussed the case of Kilmar Ábrego García, who was allegedly taken off the streets by ICE due to an "administrative error" and sent to a prison in El Salvador, despite lacking evidence of criminal activity. Colbert noted that the Supreme Court ordered Trump to facilitate García's return, but the administration has defied the ruling. He stated that these "are court orders not court suggestions!" Colbert suggested the mistake was intentional, adding that Trump has been "publicly mulling the idea of sending American citizens to rot" in the same prison. He said, "We're not on our way to a dictatorship, we're on the ship," before adding that "regardless of your politics, those aren't your politics." Colbert questioned what actions could be taken, inquiring about a "break-glass-if-constitution-stops-working mechanism" and mentioning a law that allows marshals to intervene if the president refuses to comply. Colbert also addressed Trump's attempts to influence higher education by imposing demands on institutions. He noted that Harvard has refused these demands. The administration wants DEI programs shut down, plagiarism checks made on all staff, and foreign students reported for conduct violations. According to Colbert, the head of Harvard "clapped back to insane dictatorial demands," which has led to $2.2 billion of federal funding being withheld. Colbert added that Harvard has been around since 1636, so it will likely continue to survive. He joked that back then, the only available classes were "Latin grammar, intro to leechcraft and witch kindling."

Jimmy Kimmel

On Jimmy Kimmel Live, the host discussed Joe Biden's return, noting his energetic appearance at a bipartisan event to help protect social security. "Man oh man did he come out swinging," he said. Kimmel also addressed Trump's conflict with Harvard, joking that it was "home to liberal elite alumni," such as Ted Cruz. He quipped that Trump was the best person to get involved in the inner workings of a higher education institution after starting his own "fraudulent university." Kimmel stated, "My money's on Harvard," as "I've seen Revenge of the Nerds." Trump's stance on DEI has led him to call for "merit-based hiring," which Kimmel said can be seen in his cabinet, citing hires such as Pete Hegseth and Linda McMahon. He also suggested that having a "reality star and Pizza Hut spokesperson" as president was perhaps not the best example either. Kimmel also called out the "orangenosers kissing his butt in ways we've never seen before," referring to a new badge worn by Trump's loyalists that shows Trump's face in gold. With the economy in a worrying place and tariffs that haven't fully taken effect yet, Kimmel expressed concern that Americans having less access to coffee will have a negative impact. "Can you imagine the mental health crisis?" he asked before saying there will be an uptick in "workplace stabbings."