Former President Donald Trump has sparked concern and criticism after suggesting that being “anti-Trump” could be “illegal” in a social media post targeting comedian Seth Meyers. The explosive message was posted on Truth Social following an episode of “Late Night with Seth Meyers” that ridiculed the former president’s recent tour of Asia and his comments on military technology.
The conflict began when Meyers, during his “A Closer Look” segment, critiqued Trump’s remarks to troops aboard the USS George Washington in Japan. Trump had expressed his preference for traditional steam catapults on aircraft carriers over modern electromagnetic launching systems. Meyers explained the technical advantages of the new system to his audience before joking that Trump dislikes it because “he thinks, I don’t know, electricity votes for Democrats or something.”
The comedian added, “Experts say it would cost billions to go back to the old system, but Trump thinks he knows more about aviation than everyone else because he dances like one of those guys that holds the signaling sticks on the runway.” This commentary prompted a furious response from the former president, who has a long-standing public disdain for the talk show host.
In his post, Trump labeled Meyers “the least talented person to ‘perform’ live in the history of television” and a “truly deranged lunatic.” The most contentious part of the message came at the end, where he questioned why NBC would employ someone who is “100% ANTI TRUMP, WHICH IS PROBABLY ILLEGAL!!!” The suggestion that political criticism could be unlawful quickly drew alarm online, with many users pointing to the First Amendment’s protection of free speech as a foundational American right.
