American late-night television hosts have delivered a sharp critique of former President Donald Trump's recent remarks on the cost of living, focusing on his perplexing comments about grocery shopping and identification. The comedic segments also covered the ongoing record-breaking government shutdown and unusual White House announcements.
Meyers Takes Aim at Economic Disconnect
Seth Meyers dedicated significant airtime to analysing what drove Democratic victories in recent Virginia and New Jersey elections. The Late Night host emphasised that voter anger extended beyond anti-Trump sentiment to include serious economic concerns, particularly regarding soaring food costs.
"If you examine the data closely, you'll find that it wasn't simply backlash against Trump that powered Democratic successes," Meyers stated. "People are genuinely furious about the economy," especially the unprecedented rise in grocery prices that affects everyday items like coffee, bananas, and beef.
Meyers joked about the severity of the situation, suggesting that beef prices have reached historic highs. "The situation is deteriorating so rapidly that soon Trump will be encouraging Americans to consider vegan alternatives," he quipped.
Trump's Baffling Grocery Store Comments
The comedian particularly highlighted Trump's claim that Americans need to show identification when grocery shopping. Speaking from the White House, Trump insisted that "all we want is voter ID" at supermarkets, claiming "you go to a grocery store, you have to give ID."
"Obviously everyone understands that you get carded at the supermarket," Meyers responded with deadpan delivery. "Trump has absolutely no understanding of what ordinary citizens experience daily, and he shows no interest in learning."
The host expressed astonishment at Trump's insistence during a CBS News 60 Minutes interview that grocery prices were actually decreasing. "You might get away with falsehoods about immigration, the stock market, or even claiming credit for ending conflicts between nations most Americans didn't realise were fighting," Meyers noted. "But you cannot deceive people about the prices they personally witness every time they visit their local supermarket."
Colbert Addresses Government Shutdown Crisis
Meanwhile, Stephen Colbert turned his attention to the government shutdown, which has now become the longest in American history at 38 days and counting. The Late Show host warned that the situation was creating increasing problems for air travel as unpaid air traffic controllers fail to report for work.
"The shutdown has already caused significant disruption to air travel, and that disruption is intensifying," Colbert stated. The situation has become so severe that the Federal Aviation Administration has instructed airlines to reduce flights by 10% at the nation's busiest airports.
"If you're planning Thanksgiving travel, you might consider departing immediately," Colbert advised, jokingly suggesting that buses might become the preferred mode of transportation.
The comedian also commented on Trump's reaction to Democratic election successes, which the former president described as "an interesting evening and we learned a lot." Colbert compared this response to "what you'd say after a disappointing Tinder date that ended with someone requiring hospital treatment."
In other developments, Colbert mocked FIFA's announcement of a new peace prize to be awarded during the World Cup draw in Washington. "The FIFA peace prize is apparently reserved for world leaders who end conflicts using only their feet," he joked, suggesting the award seemed designed specifically for Trump until FIFA president Gianni Infantino declined to confirm the recipient.
