Seth Meyers calls for Donald Trump to 'shut up' as Fox News joins chorus amid $83M verdict
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY: As the 2024 presidential race gains momentum, the sense of deja vu in the political landscape becomes palpable.
There's an inclination to bluntly express the desire for the GOP's presumed candidate, Donald Trump, to "shut up." Seth Meyers suggests that this sentiment resonates even among the typically pro-Trump individuals at Fox News.
Seth Meyers reacts to Trump's $83 million defamation verdict
During a discussion on January 29 regarding the recently concluded E Jean Carroll defamation trial, Meyers conveyed that the jury had directed Trump to pay a substantial sum of "a stunning $83 million."
To add context, CBS News reported that former President Donald Trump has been ordered to pay a substantial amount of $83.3 million in damages as a result of defamatory statements he made, denying allegations of sexual assault by writer E Jean Carroll.
This federal jury ruling on January 26 delivered a striking verdict following less than three hours of deliberation.
The breakdown of the awarded damages includes $18.3 million in compensatory damages and an additional $65 million in punitive damages.
Within the compensatory amount, $11 million is allocated for repairing E Jean Carroll's reputation, while $7.3 million is designated for the emotional harm she suffered.
Notably, Fox News itself has reached the consensus that perhaps it would be prudent for Trump to refrain from further commentary.
Indeed, the language employed by John Yoo, the former Deputy Assistant Attorney General during George W Bush's administration from 2001 to 2003, on the network was notably more explicit and severe.
Yoo, appearing visibly agitated, remarked, “The whole point of this, [these] enormous damages—unprecedented damages—is to tell Donald Trump to shut up.”
Seth Meyers humorously reacts to Fox News' 'shut up' remark
In light of the incident, Seth Meyers expressed his understandable surprise at the situation.
“You know it’s bad when even Fox News, the network that gives Trump unfiltered airtime, is telling him to shut up,” Meyers remarked.
To contextualize the magnitude of the $83 million figure, the 'Late Night' host highlighted that it is three times the alleged market value of Mar-a-Lago.
Essentially, Meyers pointed out, “Trump would have to sell Mar-a-Lago three times” to generate the funds required to cover the substantial amount he now owes in his defamation trial.
Trump faces an unfortunate predicament, according to Meyers.
Unfortunately for Trump, Meyers pointed out, the only individual potentially gullible enough to consider buying Mar-a-Lago three times is Rudy Giuliani.
Meyers humorously assured his audience, “And he doesn’t have the money either.”
