From JFK to Bill Clinton, US presidents have long accepted the relentless punchlines of late-night hosts as part of the job – until now
What is US late-night TV if it isn’t riffing on the political news of the day? Since ABC made the decision to indefinitely suspend comedian Jimmy Kimmel from his late-night talkshow after on-air remarks about the killing of Charlie Kirk, Donald Trump has encouraged further action against other late-night hosts.
Yet, such topical humor has been a feature of late-night TV since NBC launched the format in the mid-1950s. In fact, throughout modern history, presidents in particular have understood the cultural value of late night TV and dutifully played their part in this uniquely American symbiosis – from JFK to the present-day politicians.
