Late-night hosts Seth Meyers and Stephen Colbert took aim at Donald Trump's recent trip to China, where the US president made fawning comments about President Xi Jinping and faced widespread mockery online.
Seth Meyers on Trump's China Visit
On Late Night, Seth Meyers noted that in Trump's first year of his second term, his family made about $4 billion, an 'insane' figure that came from government contracts, shady crypto deals, and memecoins rather than actual work. Meyers also highlighted that a 91-storey Trump tower on Australia's Gold Coast was scrapped after the Trump brand became 'increasingly toxic' in the country. 'That means a lot, as everything there is toxic,' Meyers joked.
Meyers said it was a 'perfect time for the president to fly to China' given his unpopularity abroad, before playing footage of his welcome, which included a group of children dancing and cheering. Trump remarked on how beautiful the children were, prompting Meyers to quip: 'The last time I saw so many young and beautiful children greet a plane, it was on an island.'
Trump was joined by his son Eric, to which Meyers said: 'Just imagine the rightwing freakout if Hunter Biden had gone with Joe on a trip to China.' He added that Hunter would be better company as 'the guy knows how to party.'
Trump also arrived with an 'entourage of American CEOs,' including Elon Musk, who Meyers said needed to 'project dignity and poise.' However, Musk failed instantly, with footage showing him acting strangely at a party. 'The fuck are you doing, dude?' Meyers asked, saying Musk looked 'like an eight-year-old who's ruining the family Christmas card.'
Trump aimed to stand up to Xi Jinping after years of criticizing China, but instead made fawning comments, including calling it an 'honor' to be the leader's friend. 'What happened to standing up to China?' Meyers asked.
Trump's arrival was mocked across China online, with state censors allowing viral comments. 'Internet memes and posts are hardly behind Trump's back. They're mocking him where he's most likely to see it,' Meyers said. He concluded that while Americans struggle to get by, Trump only cares about 'flattery, fanfare, and self-enrichment' overseas.
Stephen Colbert on Trump's Beijing Trip
On the Late Show, Stephen Colbert also discussed Trump's trip to Beijing, joking about Trump and Xi's 'inspiring display of hyper-masculine hand dominance' during their extended awkward handshake. Colbert warned that Xi 'might catch a case of five-day-old banana hand' if he isn't careful.
Colbert played footage of the welcoming committee of excited children, saying: 'Those kids are so happy... that they got the day off from the iPhone factory.' He added: 'That joke is based on a true story... that I read on my iPhone.'
The visit also saw Trump say how much he respected the Chinese leader, adding that he only tells the truth. Colbert joked it was his 'one billionth lie.'
While many press members covered the trip, a CBS journalist failed to get a visa in time and had to report from Taiwan instead. Colbert said it fits the CBS slogan: 'When events happen, we're at most one country away.'
Colbert also discussed Kyle Diamantas becoming the new acting head of the FDA, expressing concern: 'He's not a doctor, he's obscure, and he's named Kyle.' He said he doesn't trust a Kyle to run the FDA and only wants a Kyle to 'run me a standup paddleboard.' The title was announced after previous head Marty Makary wouldn't approve fruit-flavored vapes for Trump.
