As a seasoned late-night host, Jay Leno has seen his fair share of presidential elections. But this year’s contest between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris was a unique one, and Leno is offering his perspective.
In a recent appearance on “The Talk,” Leno praised the 2024 election, describing it as “fair” and “honest.” Despite admitting that he “was not a fan” of Trump, the comedian emphasized the importance of coming together as a nation.
“The nice thing about this election is that it was fair; it was honest,” Leno told the hosts. “Well, I wasn’t a fan, but that’s okay, it’s the President of the United States—let’s all get together. Thank you very much,” Leno said.
Leno’s comments come in the wake of a closely contested race that saw Trump narrowly edge out Vice President Kamala Harris. The former “Tonight Show” host expressed relief that the election process proceeded without controversy.
“You know, my fear is they’re going to be watching this, and there are 1,100 votes out of 300 million between, and it’s going to be name-calling about, ‘OK, here’s the answer, OK? This is the thing,'” Leno said. Leno performed the task in a professional manner, without any instances of cheating. Everybody says it was honest. Indeed, today is a significant day for democracy.
The conversation began with “The Talk” co-host Natalie Morales asking Leno about his experiences hosting “The Tonight Show” after major elections. Leno contemplated the evolving terrain of political comedy, highlighting the contemporary expectation for comedians to adopt a partisan stance.
“It was different in my day—you kind of made fun of both sides,” Leno remarked, mimicking the process of receiving angry letters from both Republicans and Democrats. “Now, you kind of have to take a side. It’s a little bit different.”
Leno’s remarks highlight a notable change in the perception and consumption of political humor. While the comedian may have once been able to poke fun at both parties, the current climate has made it increasingly difficult for entertainers to maintain that neutral stance.
Despite his personal reservations about Trump, Leno emphasized the importance of respecting the will of the voters and coming together as a nation. “Well, I wasn’t a fan, but that’s okay.” It’s the president of the United States. Let’s all get together. Thank you very much, you know?” Leno said.
In addition to addressing concerns about the integrity of the election process, the former “Tonight Show” host expressed relief that the outcome was free of controversy. “Here’s the answer,” Leno said. “It was done. There was no cheating. Everybody said it was honest. It was a wonderful day for democracy.”
Leno’s perspective offers a unique insight into the evolution of political comedy and the role of the media in shaping public discourse. As the nation navigates the aftermath of a divisive election, Leno’s call for unity and respect for the democratic process provides a glimmer of hope in an increasingly polarized landscape.