Seth Meyers Takes Down Trump With 1 Embarrassing Putin Oversight

Late Night host Seth Meyers teased Donald Trump on Tuesday after the president claimed that he thought Russia's war in Ukraine would be easier to resolve, saying Putin "really let me down." Meyers delivered the barb during a monologue on NBC's Late Night, turning the president's remarks into a pointed critique of credibility and foreign policy.

"Yeah, you know, you think you know a guy and then it turns out you're the only one who doesn't," Meyers quipped, linking Trump's assessment to a broader critique of his foreign-policy instincts. The comedian then turned his attention to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, whose speech to the North Korean parliament—shared via state media on Monday—recalled his "good memories" of Trump. "I mean, sure, we all do. For example, remember when he looked directly at an eclipse?" Meyers added, as an on-screen image illustrated the moment.

Both segments illustrate how late-night hosts blend international events with punchlines to engage a broad audience. Meyers' quip about Putin feeds into a larger pattern of satire that treats the U.S.-Russia rivalry as a running setup, while the Kim Jong Un reference taps into ongoing interest in Pyongyang's relationship with Washington and its portrayal in state media.

Tuesday's monologue followed a week in which other outlets highlighted Trump's remarks about the war in Ukraine and Moscow's posture, giving Meyers material that he used to underscore a key theme of his comedy: questioning assertions from powerful figures with humor.

Observers note that Meyers' approach aligns with his show's history of sharp, topical humor that translates dense geopolitical headlines into accessible entertainment. The eclipse gag, paired with the Putin quip, reflects a broader trend in late-night culture to fuse political commentary with lighthearted pop culture references, making international politics more relatable for a broad audience.

The segment also underscores how satirical programs source material from both domestic and international developments, illustrating the way late-night hosts frame global dialogue for viewers who rely on humor to interpret complex events.