Late-night comedy fails to stop Trump again

In the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election in the United States, late-night television hosts, including Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and others, directed nearly all their political humor toward then-candidate Donald Trump. Research conducted by the Media Research Center revealed that out of 1,463 political jokes made from September 3 to October 25, a staggering 1,428, or approximately 98 percent, were aimed at Trump. In contrast, only 35 jokes targeted Kamala Harris, highlighting the comedians’ disproportionate focus on Trump during this critical election period. Despite their efforts, these late-night hosts failed to make a significant impact on voter sentiment and behavior, as a large majority of the American public remained unaffected by their comedy routines. Polls indicated that a significant portion of voters, around 75 percent, felt that celebrity endorsements, including those from comedians, did not influence their electoral decisions at all. The lack of engagement from audiences was further illustrated by the declining viewership numbers for late-night programs, with many younger viewers choosing to consume political content through social media platforms instead of traditional television. As the election unfolded, it became evident that the relentless anti-Trump humor was not resonating with voters as intended, resulting in emotional responses from hosts following Trump's electoral victory. Many of these hosts publicly expressed disappointment and frustration in the aftermath of the election, which only emphasized their perceived failure to influence public opinion through their comedy. Moving forward, the late-night television landscape appears to be shifting, confronting challenges related to declining viewership and an increasingly apathetic audience regarding political commentary from celebrities.