Late-Night Comedians Unleash on GOP's 'America First' Award for Trump
Late-night television hosts delivered scathing commentary on the Republican National Committee's inaugural "America First" award presented to former President Donald Trump, alongside coverage of a disturbing new story involving Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Jimmy Kimmel's Scorching Take on the Award Ceremony
Jimmy Kimmel dedicated significant airtime to mocking the Republican National Committee's newly created "America First" award, which was presented to Donald Trump by House Speaker Mike Johnson during a Wednesday ceremony. Johnson described the award as "appropriate for the new golden era in America," a statement that prompted Kimmel to question who should feel more embarrassed.
"I can't figure out who should be more embarrassed: the guy who came up with the new award, or the guy who proudly accepted the new award," Kimmel laughed during his monologue. He then played a clip of Mike Johnson's presentation speech, adding sarcastically, "Watch Mike Johnson here. You can almost feel his spine exiting his body."
Kimmel suggested alternative names for the award, including the "Lies-man Trophy" as a more fitting designation. He delivered his most biting commentary when he stated, "But the squeaker of the House is correct: there can be no more deserving winner of this fictitious distinction you created specifically to tongue-bathe his undercarriage than Donald Trump."
The comedian noted Trump's apparent genuine pleasure in receiving such honors, remarking, "My favorite part, when they give Trump these awards, is when he comes out with a look of surprise on his face. And the saddest part is, he seems to be genuinely honored by these imaginary accolades." After showing another clip of Trump standing beside Johnson, Kimmel added, "Look at him, how happy he is. All the grace and elegance of a gorilla at a wedding."
The award statuette features a golden eagle, which Kimmel suggested would join Trump's collection of questionable honors including his regifted Nobel Peace Prize, an Olympic gold medal he didn't win, and tournament championships from his own golf club. "That is going on the mantle right next to his regifted Nobel peace prize, the Olympic gold medal he didn't win, and the three tournament championships he 'won' at his own golf club," Kimmel noted.
Seth Meyers Questions Trump's Iran 'Present'
On Late Night, Seth Meyers shifted focus to Trump's ongoing conflict with Iran, particularly the former president's mysterious claim about receiving a "present worth a tremendous amount of money" from the Middle Eastern nation. Meyers expressed skepticism about Trump's vague statements regarding negotiations, noting that Iran denies direct talks with the United States.
"Now Trump wants a speedy end to the war he started, but he can't figure out how to achieve that," Meyers said. "He won't even say who he's negotiating with. And Iran says they're not negotiating directly with us, which is why Trump ends up saying weird, vague stuff."
Trump eventually revealed that the mysterious present consisted of oil shipments, specifically describing them as "eight big boats" of oil to demonstrate that "they're real and solid and we're there." Meyers responded with incredulity, asking, "OK, so to show us that they're real and that they're solid and that they're there, could you tell us their name?"
The comedian pointed out that the oil tankers were merely passing through a strait they were already permitted to use before the conflict began. "Also, they're not letting us have free oil," Meyers noted. "They're letting oil tankers pass through a strait that they were already allowed to pass through before you started this war. Seriously, is there anything else you can say that we got out of this otherwise pointless war besides eight oil boats?"
When Trump later increased the number to ten boats, Meyers quipped, "OK, so this is clearly some teenagers who got Trump's number." He connected this development to the America First award, asking, "How many fake trophies that were made specifically for him is this guy gonna get? First the Fifa peace prize, now the America First award, and he's neither America first nor pro-peace. He's getting a participation trophy for something he didn't even participate in."
Josh Johnson's Bizarre RFK Jr. Story
On The Daily Show, Josh Johnson covered a particularly disturbing story involving Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's former health secretary whom Johnson described as "the man who looks like last year's Halloween pumpkin you forgot to throw out."
Johnson referenced previous stories about Kennedy taking home dead whales and bears before announcing, "I have great news: there's a new animal you can add to the list!" According to a New York Post report based on a 2001 diary entry, Kennedy allegedly cut off the penis of a roadkilled raccoon to examine later while his children waited in the car.
"What is wrong with this man?" Johnson exclaimed. "He cut off a raccoon's penis and saved it for later like some kind of raccoon dick Push Pop? And I know he put it right in his jeans pocket too, didn't even wrap it in a tissue or anything."
The comedian noted that such stories always mention Kennedy's children "waiting patiently," suggesting this reflects a misunderstanding of basic human emotions. "Every time I hear about one of these RFK stories, they always mention that his kids were 'waiting patiently', which shows that RFK just doesn't know the difference between patience and horror," Johnson said. "I'm sure all the hostages in a bank robbery are 'waiting patiently' to go home."
Johnson imagined the trauma this might have caused Kennedy's children, joking, "It must have been so traumatic for his kids – any car trip with him could turn into a roadkill excursion at any moment. When he asks his kids if they want to go run errands with him, they must be like: 'Eh ... can't you just beat us?'"
The combined segments from Kimmel, Meyers, and Johnson created a comprehensive late-night takedown of current political absurdities, blending sharp political satire with bizarre personal revelations about public figures.
