Seth Meyers: A Closer Look at Gen. James Mattis denouncing President Trump

Seth Meyers reacted to former Secretary of Defense James Mattis speaking out against the White House.

President Donald Trump’s tactics and threats to quell protests have been criticized by a number of people. Among the most high-profile voices to speak out is former Secretary of Defense General James Mattis. His comments were the focus on Thursday night’s edition of “A Closer Look” on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Political opponents have condemned President Trump’s words and actions regarding protests stemming from the death of George Floyd in Minnesota. It is no surprise that late night hosts like Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, and Jimmy Kimmel have also joined in.

But many have been waiting, or hoping, for Republicans or those close to the president to also speak up. Specifically, the show of force and threats to activate the military across the country have been alarming.

Gen. Mattis established himself as one of the first among former members of Team Trump to go against the White House. In The Atlantic, Mattis called the president a “threat to the Constitution,” guaranteeing himself a turn in the spotlight from “A Closer Look.”

Seth Meyers argued that President Trump is threatened by the protests’ popularity.

Gen. Mattis was the latest in a long line of people who denounced the White House for forcibly removing protestors to stage a photoshoot for President Trump. Late night hosts like Meyers and Kimmel had plenty to say, finding both the comedy in the president’s awkwardness and providing commentary on the excessive use of force.

President Trump’s only response was to claim that he fired Gen. Mattis and changed his nickname from “Chaos” to “Mad Dog.” Both these claims have been proven false which Meyers quickly points out during “A Closer Look.”

Meyers connects Gen. Mattis’ comments to polls on the popularity and support for protests across the country. The Late Night host argues that those who benefit from the unjust system are feeling threatened and therefore lashing out. Meyers makes it hard to refute his argument when he shows clips of police officers acting violently towards demonstrators and the show of military might in Washington, D.C.

What did you think of Thursday’s “A Closer Look” segment? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. Keep checking Last Night On for more from Late Night with Seth Meyers and the rest of late night television.