Late night host Jimmy Kimmel raised eyebrows with his morbid musings on former President Trump's eventual demise, sparking questions about the evolving nature of political satire in the post-Trump era.
Late-night comedy has undergone a profound transformation in the wake of Donald Trump's presidency, with hosts like Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, and Stephen Colbert opting for a more cautious approach to humor aimed at political figures. This shift has become particularly evident in the case of President Biden, who has largely escaped the merciless mockery that has characterized past presidents, including Trump.
In a recent episode of his show, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", Kimmel engaged in a sobering contemplation, pondering whether the current political climate would improve once Trump is no longer alive. The comment, while macabre in nature, highlights the profound impact that Trump's divisive presidency has had on the entertainment industry.
Politico Magazine recently published an insightful analysis of this phenomenon, attributing it to a convergence of factors, including a growing partisan divide within late-night audiences and the perceived need for comedians to serve as political watchdogs against Trump. As a result, hosts have become less willing to critique Biden, who is often perceived as a less threatening figure than his predecessor.
Biden, despite his advanced age and occasional verbal missteps, has managed to avoid the relentless ridicule that plagued Trump throughout his presidency. Politico Magazine points out that Biden's well-documented gaffes and physical stumbles, which would have undoubtedly provided ample material for comedians in the past, have been met with relative restraint by late-night hosts.
The article suggests that this hesitation stems from a sense of duty among comedians, who view themselves as gatekeepers against Trump's return to power. By refraining from criticizing Biden, they seek to prevent their humor from inadvertently benefiting Trump's cause.
However, it's important to note that Biden has not entirely escaped the satirical gaze. Kimmel, for instance, recently poked fun at his lengthy physical examination, quipping that it took an hour to examine him and two hours for him to get his pants back on.
Nonetheless, the overall tone of late-night comedy towards Biden has been markedly less acerbic than it was towards Trump. This is largely due to the fact that Biden is perceived as a more conventional politician, lacking the same level of personal eccentricity and outrageousness that made Trump such a compelling target for satirists.
Moreover, late-night audiences, which tend to lean towards the liberal end of the political spectrum, have expressed a clear preference for seeing Trump as the primary object of mockery. They are less interested in hearing about Biden's shortcomings and more eager to witness the downfall of their perceived political nemesis.
The Media Research Center, a conservative watchdog, has corroborated this bias, finding that 81% of all political jokes told on major late-night comedy shows in 2023 targeted conservatives. This statistic further underscores the partisan nature of late-night comedy and its willingness to overlook Biden's flaws in favor of attacking Trump.
While Kimmel's speculation about Trump's death may have been untimely, it serves as a reminder of the profound impact that Trump's presidency has had on the entertainment industry. It remains to be seen whether late-night comedy will regain its more even-handed approach to political satire once Trump is no longer a factor, but for now, the prevailing narrative seems to be that of fear, with comedians reluctant to give Trump any potential advantage.
