Late-Night Hosts Critique Trump's Venezuela Intervention and Greenland Rhetoric

Late-night television hosts Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert have recently criticized the Trump administration's military intervention in Venezuela and its controversial rhetoric regarding Greenland. Their commentary reflects broader concerns about U.S. foreign policy and international law.

The Guardian

• Seth Meyers: Host of *Late Night*, who emphasized the international community's disapproval of Trump's unilateral actions in Venezuela.

The Guardian

• Jimmy Kimmel: Host of *Jimmy Kimmel Live!*, who humorously addressed Trump's claims about controlling Venezuelan oil.

The Guardian

• Stephen Colbert: Host of *The Late Show*, who highlighted the absurdity of Trump's military threats against Greenland.

The Guardian

• Ronny Chieng: Correspondent on *The Daily Show*, who satirically commented on U.S. interventionist policies in Latin America.

The Guardian

Seth Meyers pointed out that the Trump administration's actions in Venezuela, including the deposing of Nicolás Maduro and the subsequent legal charges against him, have raised significant concerns among top UN officials regarding potential violations of international law. Meyers remarked, “If you were wondering how the rest of the world feels about Trump claiming he has unilateral power to attack a sovereign nation... they’re not exactly thrilled.” He criticized the administration's approach as a departure from a rules-based international order, suggesting that it promotes a dangerous precedent.

The Guardian

Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert also lampooned Trump's comments about Greenland, with Kimmel sarcastically thanking Trump for his imaginary contributions to disaster relief efforts in California while noting that Trump was preoccupied with Venezuela. Kimmel quipped about Trump's claim that Venezuelan oil would be controlled by him, implying a conflict of interest due to the oil industry's financial support for Trump's election. Colbert further ridiculed the idea of purchasing Greenland, stating, “People don’t buy and sell countries anymore,” and highlighted the absurdity of military threats against a NATO ally.

The Guardian

The hosts' critiques underscore a growing skepticism about U.S. foreign policy under the Trump administration, particularly regarding military interventions and the rhetoric surrounding them. Ronny Chieng's commentary on *The Daily Show* suggested that the U.S. might be targeting other Latin American countries next, reflecting a broader concern about interventionist policies justified under the guise of spreading democracy.

The Guardian

In response to questions about military action in Greenland, House Speaker Mike Johnson stated, “I don’t think that’s appropriate,” while Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured lawmakers that the administration's threats were not indicative of an imminent invasion but rather an intention to purchase the territory from Denmark.

The Guardian

• “If you were wondering how the rest of the world feels about Trump claiming he has unilateral power to attack a sovereign nation and kidnap its leader, it turns out they’re not exactly thrilled,” — Seth Meyers, Host of *Late Night*

The Guardian

• “Oh good, don’t worry, the oil money will be controlled by him, that way we know it will be spent honestly,” — Jimmy Kimmel, Host of *Jimmy Kimmel Live!*

The Guardian

• “We’re talking about attacking an ally, not wearing jeans to a wedding.” — Stephen Colbert, Host of *The Late Show*

The Guardian

• “Yes, Trump is the dominant predator in the western hemisphere – at least, now that Jeffrey Epstein is dead,” — Ronny Chieng, Correspondent on *The Daily Show*

The Guardian

While the late-night hosts presented a unified critique of Trump's actions, there are varying interpretations of the legality and morality of U.S. interventions in foreign nations. The administration's official stance remains that these actions are necessary for national security and the promotion of democracy, a perspective not addressed by the hosts.

The Guardian