Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert offered some rare praise to Donald Trump after the president helped broker a deal between Israel and Hamas that resulted in a ceasefire and the release of all remaining Israeli hostages.
Both late-night hosts addressed the “positive” development in the Middle East in their Monday night monologues, while also doling out jokes and their usual criticisms of Trump.
“What a day for Donald Trump,” Kimmel said on his show. “You know what? He finally did something positive today, and I want to give him credit for it — because I know he’s not the type to take credit for himself.”
Kimmel added, “While we’re only in the first phase of what will undoubtedly be a long and tricky process, but the fact is the bombing has stopped, the hostages have been released and Trump deserves some of the praise for that. So I know it sounds crazy to say, but good work on that one, President Trump. Now maybe you can not invade Portland. Just an idea.”
The host then talked about Trump’s campaign for the Nobel Peace Prize, quipping, “Let him keep trying to make peace. I’m fine with coming up with prizes and trophies to motivate. Give them the ‘Nobel Reopen the Government and Leave Healthcare Alone’ prize.”
On “The Late Show,” Colbert said, “There is some good news out there today. Thanks to Trump’s newly brokered ceasefire in Gaza, all living Israeli hostages and almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners have been released. It’s important. Credit where credit is due — Donald Trump did something good.”
Then, with a comedic pause, Colbert looked off stage and said, in a reference to his show ending in May, “Are we still canceled? You sure? I tried.”
Later in the monologue, Colbert played a clip of Trump telling Fox News that there isn’t “anything” that is “going to get me into heaven.”
“I agree with Donald Trump,” Colbert said, suddenly getting serious. “While Trump tries to bring peace to the Middle East, he’s trying just as hard to bring war to the Midwest. And, personally, I’m horrified to see how he’s stomping on my old stomping grounds of Chicago, Illinois, where I lived for over a decade. ICE has been terrorizing communities in the Windy City, going door to door in front of elementary schools, arresting immigrants, legal or otherwise, arresting U.S. citizens without any due process, and tear-gassing journalists who are merely reporting on what they’re doing.”
Kimmel and Colbert have long been critics of Trump, and both of their shows had run-ins with the federal government this year. After Kimmel made comments about the murder of conservative pundit Charlie Kirk (and Trump’s reaction to it), his show was pulled off the air following pressure from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. (After his show returned, Trump slammed Kimmel on social media as “Democrat GARBAGE” and teased he might “test ABC out on this” with possible legal action.)
Colbert’s CBS show was canceled earlier in the year amid Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media. While the network cited financial reasons for the cancellation, some media analysts believed it had something to do with Paramount wanting to please Trump while seeking regulatory approval. Trump posted on social media that he was not “solely responsible” for the show ending, saying the reason Colbert was fired was “a pure lack of TALENT” and the high costs associated with the broadcast.
Watch Kimmel and Colbert’s Monday night monologues below.
