Late-night hosts dissect Trump's bizarre rally rants and controversial Ohio ad

Key points

• Seth Meyers criticized a Republican campaign ad in Ohio that used the estranged mother of a candidate to claim she was lying about a childhood sexual assault, calling it 'despicable' and 'over the line.'
• Meyers mocked Trump's rally performance, noting he confused the Nobel Peace Prize with the Pulitzer and made a 'bullfrog' sound while speaking about a fellow Republican.
• The host highlighted Trump's unusual fixation on the physiques of male candidates, specifically mentioning Ohio Senator Jon Husted, and questioned the president's motives.
• Meyers noted that JD Vance has been attacking Republicans who criticized the controversial Ohio ad, despite widespread bipartisan condemnation.
• The segment occurred ahead of the midterm elections, with Trump campaigning in deep red states and facing low approval ratings.

Background

This week's late-night coverage follows earlier critiques of Trump's focus on optics over policy, such as his state visit with China, and his frequent targeting of late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel. Recent archive coverage also noted Trump's approval rating at 32 percent and his unusual comments about male candidates' bodies, which Anderson Cooper mocked as the 'assman-in-chief' fixation.

How outlets are covering it

The Guardian and Mashable both focused on Meyers' comedic takedowns of Trump's rally gaffes, such as the Nobel/Pulitzer mix-up and the 'bullfrog' sound. The Guardian emphasized the bipartisan outrage over the Ohio ad and JD Vance's defense of it, while Mashable highlighted the absurdity of Trump's award confusions. CNN provided background on the 'assman' fixation but did not detail the ad controversy as prominently as The Guardian.

Why it matters

The controversy over the Ohio ad and Trump's unusual campaign tactics highlight deep divisions within the Republican party and the potential impact of controversial messaging on midterm voters. The bipartisan condemnation of the ad suggests it may be a liability for the party, while Trump's focus on physical appearances rather than policy could signal a shift in campaign strategy.

What to watch

The midterm elections are scheduled for November, and the impact of the controversial Ohio ad and Trump's rally performances on voter sentiment will be closely monitored. JD Vance's defense of the ad may face further backlash from within the party, and Trump's campaign strategy may need to adjust in response to the negative reaction.