Seth Meyers denounces Trump’s threat to ban TikTok as a distraction from the pandemic

The talk show host took aim at the president in Monday night's episode of 'Late Night with Seth Meyers'

Seth Meyers has criticised Trump for focusing his efforts on “banning” the social media platform TikTok while the coronavirus pandemic worsens and millions of US residents are losing unemployment benefits.

During Monday's episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers, the talk show host condemned the president’s priorities as an ineffective use of time and resources amid a crisis.

On 31 July the president threatened to “ban” the short-form video app from operating in the US over national security concerns.

“The country is in the midst of an unprecedented national crisis that’s subjected tens of millions of Americans to misery and suffering and it’s only getting worse,” Meyers said. “The president could be focusing on any of that. But instead, he’s decided to bring the full power of the presidency to bear on this.”

The Trump administration’s response to the pandemic has been criticised globally. Across Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, views of the US handling of the coronavirus crisis are uniformly negative.

He continued, “Instead of stopping a pandemic or helping unemployed Americans, he’s pretending he has the power to unilaterally ban a social media app.”

Meyers joked, “I’m almost certain Trump has no idea what TikTok is. I’m betting TikTok was one of the answers he wrote on his cognitive test.”

The presenter went on to denounce Trump’s recent endorsement of Dr Stella Immanuel who advised the use of chemical hydroxychloroquine as a measure to combat coronavirus, which experts suggest is not only ineffective but highly dangerous.

Meyers also noted the questionable amount of time the president spends golfing and his treatment of White House reporters.