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Trump Brutally Roasts Kimmel, Fallon & Colbert With ‘Begging’ Cartoon
President Trump Shares Cartoon Mocking Late-Night Hosts as Beggars
TL;DR: President Trump posted an AI-style cartoon on Truth Social showing Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, and Stephen Colbert dressed as beggars on a NYC street. This is the latest chapter in a long-running feud between the president and the three major late-night hosts.
What Happened?
On Sunday, President Trump shared a cartoon image on his Truth Social account. The image shows three famous late-night TV hosts:
- Jimmy Kimmel (ABC)
- Jimmy Fallon (NBC)
- Stephen Colbert (formerly CBS)
In the cartoon, they’re drawn as beggars sitting on a New York City sidewalk wearing torn clothes. They hold signs saying things like:
- "talentless"
- "not funny"
- "ex comedians"
- "need money"
Behind them, a wall reads: "Late night is over."
Why Did He Post This?
The Immediate Trigger
The post came two days after the White House Correspondents’ Dinner (a big annual event for journalists and politicians) on Friday, July 24, 2026.
At that dinner, Trump attacked all three hosts by name:
"The association decided not to have a comedian, so they considered using Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon – these guys, they’re terrible, they’re terrible – Stephen Colbert. These people are without talent."
The Backstory: A 10-Year Feud
This isn’t new. Trump has been fighting with these comedians for over a decade. Here’s a timeline of the major moments:
1. Jimmy Kimmel vs. Trump (2024–2025)
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sept 2024 | Conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk was assassinated. Kimmel said the "MAGA gang" was trying to distance the killer from their movement. |
| Sept 2024 | ABC pulled Kimmel off the air temporarily. |
| April 2025 | First Lady Melania Trump demanded Kimmel be fired after he joked she had "a glow like an expectant widow" before the Correspondents’ Dinner where a gunman tried to assassinate the president. (Kimmel made the joke before the shooting.) |
2. Stephen Colbert vs. Trump (2025)
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 2025 | CBS canceled "The Late Show" after 33 years and fired Colbert. CBS called it a "financial decision." |
| Many fans and friends suspected political pressure — CBS’s parent company (Paramount) was seeking approval for an $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, which the Trump FCC later approved. |
3. Jimmy Fallon vs. Trump (2016–Present)
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Fallon ruffled Trump’s hair during a friendly interview when Trump was a candidate. |
| Democrats were furious, saying Fallon "humanized" Trump. | |
| Fallon apologized repeatedly. | |
| 2018 | Trump told Fallon to "stop whimpering" and "be a man." |
The Bigger Picture: Networks, Lawsuits & The FCC
IMPORTANT POINT: This isn’t just about jokes. It involves broadcast licenses, lawsuits, and government power.
Trump vs. The Networks
- ABC & NBC refused to air a primetime Trump speech on election fraud (July 2026).
- Trump said this should lead to "revocation of their licenses."
- FCC Chair Brendan Carr agreed the refusal should be considered in an ongoing review of ABC’s broadcast licenses.
Multimillion-Dollar Settlements
| Network | Settlement | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| ABC | $16 million (Dec 2024) | Anchor George Stephanopoulos falsely said Trump was "found liable of rape." (He was found liable of sexual assault, not rape, in a civil case — ordered to pay $5.8M to E. Jean Carroll.) |
| Paramount (CBS) | $16 million (Summer 2025) | Accused of misleadingly editing a "60 Minutes" interview with VP Kamala Harris to make her sound more coherent before the 2024 election. |
Summary
- Trump posted a mocking cartoon of Kimmel, Fallon, and Colbert as beggars on Truth Social.
- This followed verbal attacks at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
- The feud goes back 10+ years and includes:
- Kimmel’s comments on Charlie Kirk’s assassination
- Melania Trump calling for Kimmel’s firing
- CBS canceling Colbert’s show (possibly linked to a merger)
- Fallon’s 2016 hair-ruffle and subsequent apologies
- Legal and regulatory battles are also happening:
- FCC reviewing ABC’s licenses
- Two $16M settlements with ABC and Paramount
FAQ
Is the image Trump posted real or AI-generated?
It appears to be AI-generated or a digital cartoon. It’s not a real photo — it’s a satirical illustration.
Why does Trump hate these three hosts specifically?
They’re the hosts of the three major network late-night shows (ABC, NBC, CBS) and have frequently mocked Trump on their shows for years.
Did CBS really fire Colbert because of Trump?
CBS says no — they called it a "financial decision." But many critics believe the timing (during a merger needing Trump FCC approval) suggests political pressure.
Can the president really revoke TV licenses?
Not directly. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) licenses broadcast stations. The president appoints the FCC chair, but the FCC is supposed to be independent. Trump is pressuring them to act.
What were the lawsuits about?
- ABC: False statement that Trump was "liable for rape" (actually sexual assault in civil court).
- Paramount/CBS: Editing a Kamala Harris interview to make her sound better before the 2024 election.
Bottom Line: This cartoon is just the latest public swipe in a long, messy war between a president who hates being mocked and comedians whose job is to mock power — with lawsuits, FCC reviews, and billion-dollar mergers caught in the middle.
