Seth Meyers’ sharp comedic jabs at Donald Trump during the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where he mocked Trump’s presidential ambitions and birther conspiracy theories, have been widely cited as a pivotal moment that spurred Trump to run for president in 2016. Alongside President Obama’s roasting, Meyers’ jokes—such as calling Trump’s campaign “a joke” and likening Republican candidates to a “Dancing with the Stars” lineup—left Trump visibly stone-faced, with cameras capturing his displeasure. Many speculate this public humiliation fueled Trump’s determination to prove his detractors wrong, culminating in his successful 2016 campaign against Hillary Clinton. The New York Times noted that the dinner “accelerated his ferocious efforts to gain stature in the political world,” suggesting Meyers’ insults struck a deep chord, pushing Trump to pursue the presidency with renewed vigor. While Trump denied the dinner was a catalyst, claiming he had a “phenomenal time,” the narrative persists that Meyers’ mockery was a key motivator.

Despite the theory that his 2011 performance contributed to Trump’s political ascent, Seth Meyers has shown no signs of relenting in his criticism of the former president. As host of Late Night with Seth Meyers, he has made Trump a central target of his monologues, particularly during and after the 2016 campaign, blending sharp wit with pointed political commentary. In 2018, Meyers reflected on the dinner, jokingly taking credit for Trump’s run while expressing no regret, stating, “I would be more angry had I said less about him.” His show has become an “anti-Trump home base,” hosting guests like Michelle Wolf and Kathy Griffin, who also challenge Trump, and regularly dissecting Trump’s policies and rhetoric. Meyers’ refusal to soften his stance, even after Trump demanded an on-air apology in 2015 for the 2011 jokes, underscores his commitment to holding Trump accountable, regardless of the political consequences.

The irony of Meyers’ continued insults lies in the argument that his 2011 performance inadvertently catalyzed Trump’s 2016 victory, yet he persists in targeting Trump without hesitation. Some, like Omarosa Manigault Newman, have claimed the dinner’s “hammering” instilled a sense of bitterness in Trump, driving his campaign’s momentum. However, others, including Washington Post’s Roxanne Roberts, argue this narrative oversimplifies Trump’s ambitions, noting he had considered running since the 1980s and endured a harsher Comedy Central roast in 2011. Meyers himself has leaned into the controversy with humor, joking on The Tonight Show that he “kicked the hornet’s nest” while dismissing regret. This ongoing dynamic highlights a broader cultural debate: whether comedic critique fuels or undermines political figures like Trump, with Meyers unapologetically choosing to keep the pressure on, even as some argue his earlier jabs helped shape the political landscape.