Yuge problem? Jimmy Fallon is facing some harsh criticism for the way he handled his sit-down with Donald Trump on The Tonight Show Thursday, September 15.
Some viewers called out Fallon, 41, for keeping the interview too light and playful. He was nonconfrontational and didn’t ask the GOP presidential candidate, 70, any hard questions about the election.
“Jimmy Fallon is an exaggerated example of what the MSM [mainstream media] is doing. Humanizing a monster. The most dangerous thing you could do,” one viewer tweeted.
A second added: “Jimmy Fallon has people play games on The Tonight Show. He should have Trump play Risk and see how quickly he destroys the whole world.”
Viewers seemed particularly unamused when Fallon tousled the real estate mogul’s trademark hair and joked that Trump and Vladimir Putin‘s bromance nickname should be Vlump. (Trump has denied that he is good friends with the Russian president even though he continues to praise him on the campaign trail.)
“I can’t make any jokes about Jimmy Fallon,” one critic tweeted. “The way he showcased Trump like a lovable old grandpa was sickening.”
Others, however, didn’t mind the interview. “People are pissed because Jimmy Fallon had some fun with The Donald. That’s pathetic,” one person wrote.
A second tweeted: “So now Hillary [Clinton] Supporters are mad at Jimmy Fallon because he was nice to another human being. Give me a break. Have a little compassion.”
Read more reactions below:
I can’t make any jokes about Jimmy Fallon. The way he showcased Trump like a lovable old grandpa was sickening.
— Matt Zoller Seitz (@mattzollerseitz) September 16, 2016
People are pissed because Jimmy Fallon had some fun with The Donald.
That’s pathetic.
— Mickey White (@BiasedGirl) September 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/darrenhayes/status/776681533147013120
Has Jimmy Fallon finally gone soft? What happened to the Fallon of my youth who once questioned Henry Kissinger on his role in Cambodia?
— Ethan Booker (@Ethan_Booker) September 16, 2016
wait people are just annoyed at Jimmy Fallon now?
— maura quint (@behindyourback) September 16, 2016
Jimmy Fallon reminded me that a lot of people still think this is a normal election with normal stakes.
No.
— Oliver Griswold (@originalgriz) September 16, 2016
Jimmy Fallon is a comedian hosting The Tonight Show, he never makes his guests look bad and his job is to entertain and make us happy.
— cath ♣️ (@catheb) September 16, 2016
Here’s the thing, @jimmyfallon: Trump is an existential threat. Treating him like a regular candidate, legitimizing him, is reprehensible.
— Matthew Chapman (@fawfulfan) September 16, 2016
Jimmy Fallon is an exaggerated example of what the MSM is doing. Humanizing a monster. The most dangerous thing you could do.
— Kalliope (@KAmorphous) September 16, 2016
Jimmy Fallon has reached a new terrifying low of his brand of folksy aw shucks humor that just patted a racist on the head for playing nice.
— Ali B (@wtflanksteak) September 16, 2016
Can you imagine if Jimmy Fallon took a stand tonight
— Marlow Stern (@MarlowNYC) September 16, 2016
Uh oh, it looks like Twitter is realizing Jimmy Fallon is trash. Next up, cigarettes may lead to cancer.
— Stephen Sajdak (@stephensajdak) September 16, 2016
Jimmy Fallon’s brand is “Everything is Awesome!” which is great until “everything” turns out to include the rise of xenophobic fascism
— Arthur Chu (@arthur_affect) September 16, 2016
Jimmy Fallon inviting Trump on is part of the normalizing of hate. Should be ashamed of himself. Lost all respect from me.
— Mike Signorile (@MSignorile) September 16, 2016
Jimmy Fallon has people play games on The Tonight Show. He should have Trump play Risk and see how quickly he destroys the whole world.
— Joseph Scrimshaw (@JosephScrimshaw) September 16, 2016
I want to watch Jimmy Fallon’s interview with Trump but with the camera on The Roots the entire time
— Nickerdoodle @ SPX (@OneTrickTofani) September 16, 2016
Awww Jimmy Fallon ruffled Trump’s hair and then goofed around with him for ten minutes. What a funny, adorable response to fascism!
— Birdy (@palebirdy) September 16, 2016
