Seth Meyers: President Trump’s Russia Scandal Is a ‘Pivotal Moment for Our Democracy’

The late-night host called on Republicans in Congress to exercise checks and balances.

May 16, 2017 9:00 am
President Trump and Sergey Kislyak
US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Russian Ambassador to the United States, Sergei Kislyak, during talks with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (not in picture) in the Oval Office at the White House. (Photo by Alexander ShcherbakTASS via Getty Images)

Seth Meyers told viewers that Americans are at a “pivotal moment in our democracy” following Monday’s breaking Washington Post story that details President Trump’s disclosing of “highly classified information” during an Oval Office visit with Russian officials.

And he wasn’t in a joking mood.

“We’re at a point now in the Trump presidency that feels very much like a pivotal moment for our democracy,” Seth Meyers said in his opening monologue. “An increasingly authoritarian President relying on a small circle of loyalists abusing his power, and on top of that, just before we started taping The Washington Post reported that Trump revealed classified information to Russian diplomats.”

He took several jabs at President Trump before calling on Congressional Republicans: “Our democracy only works if both parties choose to exercise the checks on presidential power that our Constitution prescribes,” said Meyers.

The InsideHook Newsletter.

News, advice and insights for the most interesting person in the room.