Late-night comedians didn’t just see Trump’s Department of Defense rebrand as a punchline—they saw a target. From opening monologues to viral sketches, the move to rename it the “Department of War” became comedy gold, and the hosts ran with it.
No matter who’s standing on the stage delivering their opening monologue, it’s become an easy target, taking aim at every single move the administration has made. We’re living in a real-life version of Veep, and the hosts across the major networks are ensuring we can find something to laugh about as our world crumbles around us. Like Stephen Colbert, there may be implications and consequences for using a massive platform to joke about decisions like the name change, but at the end of the day, it’s all about entertainment. The jokes literally write themselves. And thus, they’ve started a battle with the Department of War as they hedge their battle against the administration.
The Late Night Hosts Didn’t Hold Back
Imagine a political move so over-the-top it practically writes its own jokes. That was the energy surrounding Trump’s executive order to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War, which now gives Pete Hegseth the title of “Secretary of War.” Late-night hosts quickly seized on the moment, turning the absurdity into comedy gold.
Jimmy Kimmel summed it up perfectly, calling it “Big Dictator Energy,” while clearly showing there was little fear of backlash in their routines. Observational humor is effective because viewers can immediately connect with the joke. Each host highlighted the ridiculousness of the rebranding in their own way. Seth Meyers reminded audiences that Republicans once touted Trump as the anti-war candidate, playing clip after clip of campaign promises before landing the punchline: “One thing Donald Trump has never given anyone is peace. He never shuts up.”
‘The Daily Show’ Brought History Into Its Satire
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs weeknights on CBS. All episodes are available to stream on Paramount Plus.
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