‘Today was not patriotism, today was terrorism’: Late night hosts address violence at U.S. Capitol

Late night talk show hosts addressed the violent attacks on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Wednesday evening.

In a live, and angry, monologue to open CBS’ ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,’ the host blamed Republican politicians who stood by U.S. President Donald Trump for the past four years, for the violence.

Stephen Colbert said the attack on the Capitol Building was “the most shocking, most tragic, least surprising thing I have ever seen.”

"Welcome to an unexpectedly LIVE Late Show…" @StephenAtHome https://t.co/AwsPTpap6W

— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) January 7, 2021

Jimmy Kimmel opened ABC’s ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ episode on Wednesday by calling what happened the “treason finale of the Donald Trump era.”

Addressing the attacks, Kimmel called out senators Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz, as well as Trump, for their part in the riots, saying they were “not Americans.”

Jimmy reacts to the angry Trump mob storming the Capitol… pic.twitter.com/rNCHAeRNvx

— Jimmy Kimmel Live (@JimmyKimmelLive) January 7, 2021

On NBC’s ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,’ host Jimmy Fallon said in his opening monologue, “today was not patriotism, today was terrorism.”

“Today was a disgrace. Today was disappointing. But sadly, today was not a surprise.”

Jimmy addresses today’s national news. #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/wvv4rWTc3j

— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) January 7, 2021

Meanwhile, on CBS’ ‘Late Late Show with James Corden,’ that show’s host addressed the attacks on the U.S. capitol with a more hopeful tone.

Corden said voting counts, change is coming, and that he truly believes there are better times ahead.

"The America that so many aspire to will be back. It's just been hijacked by a lunatic and his crazy army for the last four years. But that's about to end." https://t.co/iyX0JiWBa4

— The Late Late Show with James Corden (@latelateshow) January 7, 2021