Late-Night Hosts Turn Tables on Vice President Vance in Sharp Exchange Over Media and Free Speech

In a rare convergence of late-night television and political brinkmanship, Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert delivered pointed monologues that directly challenged Vice President JD Vance, escalating a feud that began with the brief suspension of Mr. Kimmel’s show in September 2025.

The episode unfolded during a special week of broadcasts from Brooklyn for “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” where Mr. Kimmel celebrated the full restoration of his program across all ABC affiliates. What started as a momentary corporate decision by Disney and ABC — prompted by controversial comments Mr. Kimmel made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk — had snowballed into a broader debate over government influence on media, free speech and the boundaries of political satire.

Mr. Kimmel, returning to the stage at the Brooklyn Academy of Music with his characteristic wry smile, wasted little time addressing Mr. Vance’s recent remarks. The vice president had appeared on Fox News, downplaying the role of Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr in pressuring ABC and dismissing suggestions of censorship. Mr. Vance argued that any lingering absences of Mr. Kimmel’s show on certain stations stemmed not from political interference but from low ratings and lack of appeal to advertisers.

“Vice President Maybelline was making the rounds, attempting to defend his boss and the chairman of the FCC with a new fairytale even a five-year-old wouldn’t believe,” Mr. Kimmel said, eliciting laughter from the audience. He played a clip of Mr. Vance claiming, “He’s currently on the air, and to the extent that he’s not, it’s because advertisers don’t like him because his ratings aren’t very good.”

Mr. Kimmel paused for effect, his grin widening. “My ratings aren’t very good?” he repeated, feigning shock. “Last time I checked, yours were somewhere between a hair in your salad and chlamydia.” The studio erupted in applause and cheers, the kind that builds slowly before cresting into a wave — a moment that sources described as electric, with audience members rising to their feet.

The jab landed with precision, underscoring Mr. Kimmel’s strategy: turn the vice president’s own words against him, highlighting what critics have called Mr. Vance’s thin-skinned responses to criticism. Mr. Kimmel continued, announcing triumphantly, “I have some good news for you, J-Dog. We’re back on all the stations — every home, every bar, every strip club and every prison in America.” He noted that station owners Nexstar and Sinclair, which had initially preempted the show, had reversed course amid public backlash and subscription cancellations at Disney+.

Later that week, Mr. Colbert joined the fray on “The Late Show,” amplifying the critique in his own inimitable style. Known for his layered, intellectual barbs, Mr. Colbert replayed clips of Mr. Vance’s defenses and countered with a barrage of observations about the administration’s sensitivity to late-night comedy. “It’s fascinating,” Mr. Colbert said, leaning forward with mock sincerity, “how a vice president who once decried government overreach now seems perfectly content when regulators lean on networks over jokes.”

Mr. Colbert piled on with references to Mr. Vance’s eyeliner — a recurring motif in late-night roasts — and his perceived fixation on television hosts. One segment featured Mr. Colbert impersonating Mr. Vance in exaggerated fashion, portraying him as overly preoccupied with ratings and public perception. The audience responded with sustained laughter, punctuated by gasps at particularly cutting lines, including a zinger comparing Mr. Vance’s temperament to “a couch that bites back” — a nod to an enduring internet meme.

Behind the scenes, the impact was palpable. Sources close to the vice president’s office described a tense atmosphere as Mr. Vance watched the segments live from Washington. Phones buzzed incessantly with alerts from aides monitoring social media, where clips spread rapidly, amassing millions of views. One aide recounted Mr. Vance pacing, his face flushed, muttering about “unfair attacks” and demanding updates on potential responses. “He was furious,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It wasn’t just the jokes — it was the way they turned his own arguments into punchlines.”

The exchanges have reignited discussions about the Trump administration’s approach to media critics. Mr. Vance has repeatedly insisted that no government coercion occurred, calling Mr. Carr’s initial threats a “joke” and emphasizing free-market decisions. Yet critics, including free-speech advocates, point to the timeline: ABC’s swift suspension followed public pressure from administration allies, and Mr. Kimmel’s return coincided with widespread protests and boycotts.

In the broader ecosystem of conservative media, reactions ranged from outrage to calls for restraint. Viral clips fueled online debates, with some hailing the late-night takedowns as masterful defenses of comedic license. Others decried them as biased assaults on a sitting vice president.

As the dust settles, the episode serves as a reminder of late-night television’s enduring role in American political discourse — a forum where satire meets power, often with unpredictable results. For Mr. Vance, long known for his own sharp rhetoric, the roasts appear to have struck a nerve, exposing vulnerabilities in an administration that has vowed to combat perceived media bias while navigating accusations of its own.

The feud shows no signs of abating. With Mr. Kimmel’s contract extending into 2026 and Mr. Colbert’s platform secure on streaming, late-night hosts remain poised to keep the spotlight — and the laughter — trained on Washington.