James Corden has branded Donald Trump a “lunatic” who had “hijacked” the US, as he and his fellow late night TV hosts reacted to an unprecedented day in America.
There were violent scenes in Washington DC on Wednesday as Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol in a chaotic attempt to protest against the results of the election.
Order was later restored and politicians returned to the chamber to resume debating Joe Biden’s victory.
The British star addressed the mayhem with a sombre monologue during the opening of his Late Late Show.
The presenter described the events as a “crazy, sad day, a day that will go down as a dark one in the long history of America”.
“It felt sad, it felt wrong, but mainly, it felt hopeless,” he said. “I hope when the dust settles and we reflect on what happened on this awful day, that we still have hope.”
The London-born star said he grew up an “outsider” who admired the US, and those like him watching around the world would have been shocked by the events in DC.
He said the US had been “hijacked” by a “lunatic and his crazy army” for the last four years, but said that will soon end.
He added: “Because in two weeks on those same steps, where that mob fought and pushed past police, Joe Biden will be sworn in as president of the United States.”
Fellow late night host Jimmy Kimmel also opened his show with a monologue welcoming viewers to “the treason finale” of Trump’s presidency, before slamming the president for refusing to accept the result of the election.
Mocking the costumes some of the protesters wore, the TV host said “it was like a psychotic Price Is Right audience forcibly taking control of the Plinko wheel”.
He moved on to the rift between Trump and his vice president Mike Pence, who defied calls to reject the electoral votes that make Mr Biden president.
The US star compared it to another high-profile split reportedly happening, saying: “First Kim and Kanye, and now Trump and Pence. Very sad.”
Her went on to criticise the Republicans who had sided with Trump, including Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley.
He said: “It was a terrible day in the history of this country. Our president and the scumbags who have kept this stolen election charade going, and that’s you Josh Hawley, that’s you Ted Cruz, either intentionally or just wildly irresponsibly, lit these fires to start a war, just to distract us from the fact Donald Trump lost the election.”
He added: “These people are not Americans.”
Jimmy Fallon opened his The Tonight Show by telling viewers it was a “difficult time” to do an entertainment programme.
He said: “This is what happens when there is no peaceful transition of power and what happens when there is bad leadership. This is not how you lose.
“Today was not patriotism, today was terrorism. I thought that President-elect Biden, President Biden, said it best when he said ‘we have to step up, we’re at our best when we step up.’”
He added: “Today was a disgrace. Today was disappointing. But sadly, today was not a surprise.”
Stephen Colbert filmed his show live. He told viewers to remember the behaviour of Trump loyalists next time they are up for re-election.
He said: “And in 2022, when all of those Republicans who are responsible for what happened today are running for re-election, let’s remember them for who they showed themselves to be today: cynical cowards who believe the voters should not choose who governs this country.”