The dust has settled on the 2024 presidential election, and late-night hosts are stepping in to process its implications.

Following Donald Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris to reclaim the presidency, comedians took to their shows on Wednesday night to express their disappointment and provide some levity during what they see as a challenging time for the nation.

Jimmy Kimmel, known for his jabs at Trump on social media, kicked off his show with a humorous skit of himself hurriedly packing his belongings in his office.

“I’m getting out of the country,” he declared. “I can’t endure another four years of this. Who knows what he’s capable of? He mentioned having a list of enemies. Do you think I’m not on it?”

After his comedic partner, Guillermo Rodriguez, persuaded him to stay in the segment (before joking about returning to Mexico), Kimmel continued with his monologue relating to Trump winning despite falsely asserting he lost in 2020 due to supposed voter fraud.

“So, I guess this election wasn’t rigged after all,” he remarked. “Isn’t that strange? He claimed it would be rigged. He said that while people were waiting in line to vote! Isn’t it surprising that this time, it was all above board? Last time, the Democrats supposedly cheated, but this time we chose not to. I guess.”

He humorously compared Trump to Emperor Palpatine from “Star Wars,” who returned from what appeared to be his demise in “The Rise of Skywalker.” Kimmel joked, “Donald Trump is just like the emperor from ‘Star Wars.’ He’s old, he’s villainous, and he keeps returning for no logical reason.”

Kimmel expressed that his “kids were very upset” about Trump’s victory and became emotional when describing election night as a “dreadful night.”

“It was a dreadful night for women, children, and the many hardworking immigrants who keep this country running. It was terrible for healthcare, the environment, science, journalism, justice, and freedom of speech,” he stated. “It was a terrible night for the impoverished, the working class, seniors depending on Social Security, our allies in Ukraine, NATO, the truth, democracy, and common decency.”

“It was a tough night for everyone who opposed him, and guess what? It was also a bad night for those who supported him. They just don’t realize it yet.”

Yet, Kimmel found some solace in having “survived this once before” during Trump’s initial presidency. “And yes, it might be worse this time, potentially a lot worse. But perhaps we will look back and see that, in the grand scheme of things, this was necessary to awaken us. Maybe those who are so invested in him need to learn just how little he cares for them.”

He also made light of the possibility that Trump might imprison him and other late-night hosts after assuming office, joking, “My only request to President-elect Trump is that he allows me to share a prison cell with Taylor Swift.”

Stephen Colbert: ‘It’s challenging to find any positives’

Switching over to CBS, Stephen Colbert began “The Late Show” with a serious delivery from behind his desk. “If you regularly watch this show, I’m betting you’re not in great spirits,” he said, emphasizing that he is thankful to be hosting the program because “during times like this, who do we want to be? Not alone.”

In his monologue, Colbert acknowledged the “deep shock and sense of loss is enormous” following Trump’s victory and remarked that the president-elect’s supporters “don’t appear to care much about democracy.”

“The next four years could be uncertain,” he acknowledged. “What we do know is that we’ll be led by a significant child alongside a bunch of cowards and con artists, and my mind is overwhelmed with the possibilities. Finding a silver lining here is quite difficult.”

“This is a tough situation,” he continued. “When Trump was elected the first time, it felt like an unfortunate freak occurrence. This time, America knows exactly what it’s getting into, and they chose him regardless.”

However, similar to Kimmel, Colbert did note a potential advantage: the fact that “we know what’s ahead” in a second Trump term due to his past presidency.

“It’s much like the initial experience of attending your child’s spring concert; nothing quite prepares you for the sound of 25 second graders attempting the recorder,” he humorously remarked. “But with your next child, you know better. You’ve got earplugs ready. Even hearing ‘Frère Jacques’ on repeat can’t faze you.”

Colbert ended his segment with a light-hearted suggestion, “Can we just inform Jimmy Carter that she won?” The 39th president cast his vote for Harris at the age of 100, after expressing a desire to live long enough to do so.

“And maybe Jimmy Carter can let me know that she won?” he added.

Seth Meyers: ‘The struggle for justice doesn’t wrap up with one election’

Seth Meyers opened “Late Night” with a tongue-in-cheek way of saying that his decision to vote for Harris might come as a shock.

“I genuinely do not believe Donald Trump is a good person,” he stated. “In fact, I would even argue he is quite the opposite. I’m saying that based solely on everything I’ve learned about good and bad behavior throughout my life.”

“However, I recognize that half the nation perceives him as a good individual, or they simply don’t mind his character flaws because they endorse his presidency,” he continued. “As a result, it’s likely he will secure the presidency once more. This is the nature of democracy in America, a country where living is a privilege, even on challenging mornings like this one.”

In a segment called “Closer Look,” Meyers described Trump’s first term as a “disaster that led the nation into chaos and caused immense suffering for many Americans.” He humorously noted that surviving another term would require “whatever medication they’re administering to Trump.”

“We are about to venture into extremely uncertain times,” he remarked. “A glance at Trump’s first term provides a glimpse into the perils of a second term. Everyone should be aware of what was clearly outlined by Trump. What’s certain is that the quest for justice is more than just one election.”

Jimmy Fallon: ‘America has chosen to return to a tumultuous relationship’

On “The Tonight Show,” Jimmy Fallon humorously stated that by voting Trump back into office, “America has decided to get back with a crazy ex,” adding, “Regardless of your vote, I believe everyone can agree that Thanksgiving will be rather uncomfortable this year.”

“It was a significant night for Donald Trump, and even more so for Don Julio,” he laughed, referring to the tequila brand. “51% of the population is quite pleased, while 47% are suffering from hangovers, and (Rudy Giuliani) seems to be feeling both.”

Kimmel, Colbert, and Fallon all pointed out the surge in Google searches for “did Joe Biden drop out” on Election Day, delivering the same punchline: “Most of those searches were apparently from Joe Biden,” quipped Fallon.

Shifting gears to entertainment news, Fallon mentioned that Netflix has confirmed the last season of “Stranger Things” will premiere in 2025, quickly tying it back to the election with, “After what happened last night, how much stranger can things possibly get?”