Trump's push to oust Seth Meyers gains key support in clash over late night satire

Brace yourself for another showdown between former President Donald Trump and the late-night comedy circuit, as the battle over free speech and personal grudges heats up.

This latest dust-up centers on Trump’s call for NBC to fire "Late Night" host Seth Meyers, a demand that has now garnered apparent backing from Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr, following a biting monologue that mocked Trump’s military technology preferences, as Daily Mail reports.

It all started with a segment on Meyers’ show, where the comedian took aim at Trump’s outspoken preference for steam catapults over the modern Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System on Ford-class aircraft carriers.

Trump’s Steam Nostalgia Sparks Satire

Meyers aired a clip from a speech Trump gave to U.S. troops aboard the USS George Washington in Japan, where the former president polled the crowd on their catapult preference, receiving a resounding “Steam” in response.

Trump doubled down in the clip, lamenting that electric systems require elite MIT experts for repairs, while steam versions could be fixed with just a hammer and a blowtorch, adding a poetic note about the “beautiful steam pouring off that deck.”

Meyers couldn’t resist the setup, jabbing that Trump “spends more time thinking about catapults than Wile E. Coyote,” a quip that, while clever, clearly struck a nerve with the former president.

Meyers’ Mockery Fuels Trump’s Fury

Not stopping at catapults, Meyers poked fun at Trump’s nostalgia for outdated military tactics, even impersonating him with a satirical bit about strapping soldiers to rockets in the “good old days.”

He also took a swipe at Trump’s recent Asia trip, suggesting the ex-president relishes the royal treatment abroad more than what he gets stateside, hinting at envy for authoritarian pomp.

While Meyers’ humor may play well with his audience, it’s clear his brand of satire—often seen as part of a broader progressive agenda—doesn’t sit right with everyone, especially not with Trump.

Trump Fires Back with Vengeance

Trump didn’t hold back, unleashing a scathing rant on Truth Social, calling Meyers “the least talented person to ‘perform’ in the history of television” and demanding NBC fire him “IMMEDIATELY.”

He went further, labeling Meyers’ show a “ratings DISASTER” and claiming the host’s anti-Trump stance might even be “PROBABLY ILLEGAL,” a charge that raises eyebrows given the protections of free expression.

Let’s be real—Trump’s no stranger to hyperbole, but his fixation on late-night hosts suggests a deeper frustration with narratives he can’t control, a sentiment many of his supporters likely share.

FCC Chair’s Silent Endorsement Stirs Debate

Enter FCC chair Brendan Carr, who amplified Trump’s ire by sharing a screenshot of the Truth Social post on his X account, offering no commentary but sending a clear signal of alignment.

This isn’t Carr’s first brush with late-night controversy; just months ago, he was tied to a flap over Jimmy Kimmel’s temporary suspension from ABC, where his “easy way or hard way” remark raised questions about regulatory overreach before he clarified it wasn’t a threat.

While Carr’s latest move stops short of direct action, it fuels a growing concern among conservatives that media outlets wield unchecked power to mock and malign, often without consequence—though the line between critique and censorship remains razor-thin.