Colbert and Kimmel slam 'unhinged fascist lunatic' Trump for Putin praise

Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert both ripped former President Trump Thursday for his remarks regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin and the invasion of Ukraine. On multiple occasions, Trump has praised Putin, calling him a genius, and even went so far as to blame the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the “rigged election” of 2020, continuing his lie about his election loss.

“It takes a special kind of son of a bitch to see innocent people fleeing their homes and think, ‘How can I make this about me?’” Kimmel said. “But nobody does that better than Donald Trump.”

Kimmel later continued, “There are hundreds of casualties in Ukraine, images of families running for their lives, and not only hasn’t Trump condemned Putin, ‘Sar-a-Lago’ has been praising his KGBFF. He called him a genius. He called what he's doing wonderful. He keeps defending Putin, which is embarrassing. He's never gonna date you, dude, give it up. There’s nothing good you can say about Vladimir Putin.”

Over on The Late Show, Colbert had a similar message, but used a different approach. Since Trump left office, Colbert has refused to say his name on the show, choosing instead to go with a different nickname each time he talks about the former president.

“Amidst all this horror, it's important to keep our eyes on the unhinged fascist lunatic,” Colbert said. “I’m talking about former ‘President Stonewall Jackass.’ He has been out there pushing a pro-Putin agenda, forever.”

Colbert also called out Fox News for its coverage of Putin leading up to the invasion. Many at the network actually defended the dictator’s orders to amass Russian troops along its border with Ukraine. Colbert was referencing a phone interview Trump did with Fox opinion host Laura Ingraham on Wednesday.

“The ex-prez took to Russian state media — I’m sorry, I misread that — Fox News, and he had a lot of opinions,” Colbert said. “He had a lot of opinions, just not a lot of information.”

Video Transcript

JIMMY KIMMEL: It takes a special kind of son of a bitch to see innocent people fleeing their homes and think, how can I make this about me? But nobody does that better than Donald Trump.

KYLIE MAR: On "Jimmy Kimmel Live" Thursday, Kimmel slammed Donald Trump for remarks the former President has made regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Trump has blamed the invasion on the lie that the 2020 presidential election was rigged and called Russian President Vladimir Putin a genius for his justification for going into Ukraine.

JIMMY KIMMEL: There are hundreds of casualties in Ukraine, images of families running for their lives. And not only hasn't Trump condemned Putin, "Sar-a-Lago" has been praising his KGBFF. He called him a genius. He called what he's doing wonderful. He keeps defending Putin, which is embarrassing. He's never going to date you, dude. Give it up.

KYLIE MAR: Meanwhile, over on "The Late Show," Stephen Colbert also took aim at the former President.

STEPHEN COLBERT: Amidst all this horror, it's important to keep our eyes on the unhinged, fascist lunatic. I'm talking about former President Stonewall Jackass. He-- he has been out there pushing a pro-Putin agenda forever.

KYLIE MAR: Colbert also called out Fox News for some of its coverage of Putin and Ukraine in the lead up to the invasion.

STEPHEN COLBERT: The ex pres took to Russian state media-- I'm sorry, I misread that. Fox News. And he had a lot of opinions. He had a lot of opinions, just not a lot of information.

KYLIE MAR: Colbert was referencing an interview Trump did with Fox's Laura Ingraham on Wednesday in which he became confused about who was landing on Ukrainian shores shortly after the invasion began.

LAURA INGRAHAM: Now, those are the Russian-- the Russian amphibious landing.

DONALD TRUMP: Oh, I thought you said that-- I thought you said that we were sending--

LAURA INGRAHAM: No, no.

DONALD TRUMP: --people in.

STEPHEN COLBERT: Yeah, sometimes he has trouble telling the difference between America and Russia. He-- he knows he worked for one of them.