Los Angeles, June 26 (IANS) US President Donald Trump launched into a tirade, speaking out against late night show hosts Jimmy Fallon at a rally in South Carolina. He called Fallon “a lost soul”, Colbert a “lowlife” and Kimmel “terrible”.
The rally was for South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, but Trump’s remarks were heavy on celebrity references, reported variety.com.
“He looks like a lost soul,” Trump said of Fallon, the host of “Tonight Show”.
“But you know what he’s a nice guy. I agreed to do his show, and because I guess I was running at the time, he got tremendous ratings on that show. Killed everybody, right? He should be thankful. He shouldn’t be upset and angry.
“A year and a half, two years later, he is now apologising because he humanised me. And he really hurt himself,” he added.
Fallon, in a recent interview to the Hollywood Reporter, expressed regret for Trump’s appearance on the show in October 2016 in which he messed up the presidential candidate’s hair. Fallon was criticised for not directly challenging Trump and playing his appearance for laughs.
To this, Trump tweeted on Sunday, urging Fallon to “be a man”.
Fallon responded that announcing that he had donated to a Texas non-profit, RAICES, which helps immigrant parents separated from their children at the border.
At the rally, Trump also mentioned Colbert.
“The guy on CBS, what a lowlife. Honestly, are these people funny? And I can laugh at myself. Frankly if I couldn’t I would be in big trouble. But they have not talent. They are not talented people. Johnny Carson was talented.”
Of Kimmel’s show, which he did during the 2016 campaign, Trump said: “He would stand outside of the studio waiting for me… He’s standing out on Hollywood Boulevard, he’s standing there opening the door going, ohhh. I wasn’t President. I was like a guy. A guy with potential.”
Trump said that he “made a fortune” for NBC with “The Apprentice”, but complained that the network now treats “me horribly”.
“I think they are worse than CNN,” he said.
NBC News is among the media outlets that Trump frequently targets. He contrasted his ratings to those of Arnold Schwarzenegger, who took over the show only to see it fizzle.
Trump has not appeared on any of the late-night talk shows since taking office, a contrast to President Barack Obama, who appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” just months into his presidency, and followed that with appearances on most of the other late night shows, reported variety.com.