Late-Night Hosts Skewer Trump’s State of the Union Address
Late-night television hosts reacted sharply to Donald Trump’s lengthy State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, with critiques focusing on its length, tone, and content. The speech, clocking in at one hour and 47 minutes, broke the record for the longest State of the Union address ever delivered to Congress.
Kimmel’s “Real State of the Union”
Jimmy Kimmel dedicated a significant portion of his monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to dissecting Trump’s address, beginning with a dismissive “What a speech it wasn’t.” Kimmel characterized the speech’s central theme as portraying “all foreigners are murderers.” He also pointed out a perceived contradiction in Trump’s statements regarding immigration, noting the president claimed no illegal aliens had entered the U.S. During his tenure while simultaneously suggesting openness to legal immigration for potential future spouses.
Kimmel further criticized Trump’s boasting about ending Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and cutting two million people off food stamps, comparing the actions to “a Christmas message from the Grinch.” He also mocked the speech’s duration, quipping, “When you ramble incoherently for two hours is that technically still a speech or does it at some point become a conniption fit?”
Following his initial commentary, Kimmel delivered what he termed “the real State of the Union,” offering a scathing assessment of the current political climate. He accused the president of attempting to censor dissenting opinions, authorizing the arrest and incarceration of American citizens, and diverting funds from cancer research while enriching himself and his family. Kimmel also raised concerns about voting rights, the protection of alleged pedophiles, and the prioritization of billionaires over the needs of the sick, poor, and hungry.
Colbert and Fallon’s Reactions
Stephen Colbert, on The Late Show, responded to the address with a live monologue, jokingly stating he “dropped an edible and strapped in” to watch the lengthy speech. He noted the official theme presented by Trump’s team – “America at 250: Strong, Prosperous, and Respected” – but questioned its effectiveness, suggesting that explicitly stating these qualities implies their absence. Colbert also commented on Trump’s appearance, observing he looked “a little tired, but his hair was nice, and fluffy.”
Jimmy Fallon briefly addressed the State of the Union on The Tonight Show, highlighting the president’s focus on “his major accomplishments.” He quipped that the speech consisted of eight seconds of accomplishments followed by an hour and a half of self-promotion, characterizing it as “two hours of Trump telling us how great he is,” a sentiment he felt had been consistent throughout Trump’s presidency.