Stephen Colbert on Charlie Kirk shooting: ‘Political violence only leads to more political violence’ | Late-night TV roundup

Late-night hosts reply to the taking pictures of Charlie Kirk and assess Donald Trump’s denials of a sexually suggestive birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein from 2003.Stephen ColbertStephen Colbert opened his present on Wednesday with an acknowledgement of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the rightwing activist and Trump adviser who was shot and killed at age 31 throughout an occasion in Utah on Wednesday afternoon. “Our condolences exit to his household, and all of his family members,” mentioned Colbert.“I’m sufficiently old to personally keep in mind the political violence of the Sixties,” the Late Present host added. “And I hope it’s apparent to everybody in America that political violence doesn’t clear up any of our political variations. Political violence solely results in extra political violence. And I pray with all my coronary heart that that is the aberrant motion of a madman, and never an indication of issues to come back.”The present then lower to the monologue employees had ready earlier than the Kirk information; a extra chipper Colbert braced for headlines “that shall be utilized in a future documentary”. For instance, the very actual headline “Poland accuses Russia of invading its airspace”.As Poland is in Nato, a possible assault in opposition to one nation can be thought of an assault in opposition to all. “Mainly, Nato has the identical guidelines as a bachelorette get together at Medieval Occasions,” mentioned Colbert. “‘You come for Shayna, you come for all of us, OK? It’s her special occasion, and you don’t want to see what I’ll do to you with this turkey leg.’”Nato fighter jets shot down the Russian drones as quickly as they entered Nato airspace, main the Polish prime minister to comment: “This example brings us the closest we’ve been to open battle since world battle two.”“Oh no, we’re going to have to avoid wasting Non-public Ryan once more,” Colbert quipped.“Fortunately, with Europe getting ready to battle, America has a statesman in workplace, who can reassure the world with a gentle hand and calming phrases.” On Wednesday, Trump posted on Reality Social: “What’s with Russia violating Poland’s airspace with drones? Right here we go!”“I can’t imagine Russia would dare take an aggressive motion like this after Trump laid down a transparent crimson line. I’m sorry, I meant to say ‘plush crimson carpet’,” Colbert joked earlier than footage of Trump warmly greeting the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.Seth MeyersOn Late Night time, Seth Meyers continued to trace the Republican response to Trump’s alleged birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, which was launched publicly by the Home oversight committee this week. “For years, the conspiracy theories insisted that there was a cover-up to cover the identify of highly effective elites with ties to Jeffrey Epstein,” he mentioned. “And it seems they had been proper, simply not in the best way they needed it to be.“Of their fever swamp brains, they thought it was solely going to harm their political enemies, however now it’s hurting their hero Donald Trump,” he added. “Which is why they’re doing all types of psychological gymnastics to assert it couldn’t presumably be Trump’s signature in that e book.”Because the speaker of the Home, Mike Johnson, mentioned of Trump: “He’s by no means drawn such an image. He’s by no means considered drawing such an image.”“I’ve by no means identified him to be a lot of an artist, both,” mentioned Consultant Tim Burchett of Tennessee, who additionally questioned the timing of the letter’s launch. “They convey one thing out like this now … Why wouldn’t they create it out through the marketing campaign?”Meyers identified that the lewd letter was not supplied by Democrats, however by the Epstein property. “You assume if Democrats had been in possession of a birthday card from Donald Trump to the world’s most infamous intercourse trafficker, they’d have simply sat on it till after they misplaced?” he mentioned. “And sure, as I say it out loud, it does seem to be a fuck-up the Democrats would make.”Regardless, Meyers had solely contempt for Republicans over Epstein. “You may’t have it each methods,” he concluded. “You may’t spend years insisting that the names of highly effective elites are all implicated within the Epstein recordsdata, and it’s all actual apart from something with Donald Trump’s identify on it, which is faux.”Jimmy KimmelAnd in Los Angeles, Jimmy Kimmel recapped Trump’s huge night time at a seafood restaurant he didn’t personal in Washington DC, to make some extent about deploying the nationwide guard within the metropolis. “It was an enormous night time for Trump. That is the primary meal he’s had in like 5 years that didn’t have the phrases ‘additional worth’ in entrance of it,” Kimmel joked.“Think about he sends within the nationwide guard, there are lots of of troops on the road, and one way or the other they let a 34-time convicted felon simply waltz right into a restaurant, no questions requested in any respect.“These poor nationwide guardsmen and ladies,” he continued. “A number of them have to depart their households and jobs to face on the nook now watching the Ubers cross by, which isn’t what they signed up for. They’re purported to be referred to as for emergencies and disasters and wars. As a substitute, they’re clearing a path for President Crab Desserts to pig out along with his buddies.”Whereas out, Trump was requested a few sexually suggestive doodle for Jeffrey Epstein. He as soon as once more denied writing the letter which apparently has his signature in 2003. “Anybody that’s lined me for a very long time is aware of that’s not my language. That’s nonsense,” he mentioned.“That’s proper, his language is nonsense,” Kimmel laughed. “Hear, I do not know what Trump did or didn’t do. All I do know is that he actually doesn’t need us to see these Epstein recordsdata. And I’m certain no matter is in them has nothing to do with why Jeff’s girl pimp” – Ghislaine Maxwell – “bought a mysterious switch to a comfortable new jail after assembly with Trump’s private legal professional.”