Yes, late-night hosts are making fun of Joe Biden

It’s safe to say that President Joe Biden has been mentioned on television numerous times each day. But some claim that on three late-night comedy shows, there are no jokes about Biden. 

A photo meme posted to Facebook shows the moment on March 19 that Biden tripped up a flight of stairs while boarding Air Force One. 

Underneath are three photos of late night hosts Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert with the words, "Nope: Still not doing Biden jokes."

The implication is that TV’s top comedians turned a blind eye to Biden’s stumble up the stairs. But the post trips up on telling the truth.

The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)

We decided to sit down and watch the three shows to find out if the hosts really gave Biden a pass. We found that Fallon and Colbert are indeed telling jokes about Biden, including about his fall on the stairs. Kimmel's show was on hiatus that week, but he has made other cracks about the new president.

Fallon of "The Tonight Show" mentioned Biden’s stumble more than once. 

"This next poll asks, ‘What is the worst trip you’ve ever taken? 50% said a family trip, 49% said a work retreat, and President Biden said ‘Walking up the stairs of Air Force One," Fallon said March 23. 

Featured Fact-check

Donald Trump

stated on March 22, 2024 in a Truth Social post

The New York civil fraud judgment against Trump and a plan to seize Trump-owned property “is simply a 'taking.' Much like what is done in communist countries."

Fallon also mentioned it during his opening monologue later in the week, though it was more as a dig about what reporters would ask in the March 25 press conference with Biden.

"Biden’s dealing with North Korea, a border crisis and a global pandemic. But of course the first question will be, ‘Sir, why did you fall three times going up the stairs of Air Force One?’" Fallon said March 24.

Colbert made a quip about Biden’s fall in his "Late Show" monologue on March 22.

"Biden promised 100 million shots in 100 days. Well, last week he fulfilled that goal in 58 days. Our new president is on a roll, baby! Nothing can stop him now," Colbert said. "Except stairs."

Kimmel's show was on hiatus during the week of Biden's fall. But the "Jimmy Kimmel Live" host has joked about Biden since he took office, including on Jan. 21, the day after Biden’s inauguration.

"It was Inauguration Day here in the U.S.A. Joseph Rapunzel Biden is our 46th president," Kimmel said. (Biden’s middle name is actually Robinette).

We rate this Facebook post False.

UPDATE, March 31, 10:15 a.m.: After publication of this article, Kimmel's spokesperson emailed us to point out that Kimmel's show was on hiatus during the week that Biden fell while boarding Air Force One. We have updated the article to reflect that.