War breaks out — and so do the court jesters.
America’s late-night comedians responded to the outbreak of the Iran conflict with a week of disapproval and an even sharper imbalance in their punchlines. A new study from the Media Research Center found that 94 percent of the jokes about the war were aimed not at Iran but at the United States and its allies.
The analysts examined twenty episodes aired between March 2 and March 5 across five shows: Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Daily Show, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Out of 250 war-related jokes, 235 targeted America or its allies, while just 15 targeted Iran.
The United States itself was the most frequent subject, accounting for 229 jokes. Donald Trump topped the individual list with 152. Pete Hegseth followed with 23, while Markwayne Mullin, Congressional Republicans, and Lindsey Graham rounded out the field.
The tone of the humor was familiar. On Jimmy Kimmel Live!, host Jimmy Kimmel joked: “And just after midnight, the Pentagon launched what they are calling Operation Epic Fury, which is different from its original title, which was Operation Epsteino Distracto.”
Kimmel also compared America to the Iranian regime: “In an interview with the New York Post today, the paper of record, Trump said, ‘You cannot let Iran, who’s a nation that’s been run by crazy people, have a nuclear weapon.’ Which may be true, but it’s exactly the same thing every other country is saying about us.”
At The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert offered: “This military mission has been dubbed Operation Epic Fury… Fun fact, Epic Fury is an anagram for Forget Epstein.”
Colbert also mocked Trump’s warnings about escalation: “When you say ‘Big,’ how big? Large big? Buy-a-bunker big? Invest in sheep and potable water big? Run to Times Square and have sex with the first person you see big?”
On The Daily Show, Jon Stewart mocked the operation’s name: “Epic Fury? Is this a war or did the Paul brothers launch another energy drink? Stop letting the millennials name shit!”
And the pattern held across the dial.
Seth Meyers devoted all 52 of his war jokes to the American side, making him the only host with a 100-percent domestic focus. Jimmy Fallon landed 36 of 37 jokes on the U.S. side, while Kimmel followed close behind.
Even when allies appeared in the comedy crosshairs, they were few. The Daily Show told two jokes about Benjamin Netanyahu and one about Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz. Colbert managed one more.
In war, nations fight their enemies. In late-night comedy, the target often sits closer to home.
And this week, the punchlines did too.
94% of Late Night's jokes about the war in Iran mocked the United States and our allies.
Enjoy Late Night's hilarious jokes about the war in Iran.
Nah, just kidding, these "comedians" are anything but funny. pic.twitter.com/buo1hDnYmQ
— MRC NewsBusters (@newsbusters) March 9, 2026
