Late Night Shows Mock Kristi Noem's Massive Cowboy Hat
Satirical television programs across the late-night landscape found a new focal point for their monologues this week: South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem's headwear. During a recent appearance on Fox News, Noem wore a cowboy hat of unusually large proportions, immediately catching the attention of comedians and cultural commentators. The hat, which featured an exceptionally wide brim, drew comparisons to everything from a sombrero to a UFO, dominating the visual frame of her interview. Jimmy Fallon on 'The Tonight Show' was among the first to address the image, utilizing a green screen segment to digitally place the hat onto various unexpected subjects, including a grizzly bear and a Mount Rushmore bust. 'You know you have made a statement when your hat requires its own zip code,' Fallon quipped, noting that the governor seemed to be 'preparing for a solar eclipse' rather than a television interview. The segment highlighted the absurdity of the visual, turning the accessory into a comedic prop. Stephen Colbert of 'The Late Show' took a slightly different approach, focusing on the potential political symbolism behind the oversized accessory. 'Is this a hat or a declaration of war against the sun?' Colbert asked his audience. He suggested that the headwear was an attempt to out-cowboy her political rivals in a crowded Republican field. 'When you are running for president, you have to project strength. Apparently, in the GOP, strength is measured in square footage of felt.' Colbert’s analysis blended fashion critique with political satire, a staple of his nightly monologue. On 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', the host compared Noem's look to a series of pop culture references, including the Mad Hatter and a character from 'Mario Kart.' Kimmel noted that the late-night circuit has been in a drought of visual gags recently, stating, 'We were running out of things to make fun of, and then Governor Noem walked out with a hat that could double as a tent.' The audience roared as Kimmel played a clip of the interview where Noem had to physically adjust the hat to look directly into the camera lens. Social media also exploded with the image, with Twitter (now X) users posting side-by-side comparisons of Noem’s hat to satellite dishes, parasols, and the classic red roof of a Pizza Hut. The meme potential was immediate and undeniable. Even 'The Daily Show' weighed in, with guest host Desi Lydic pointing out that while Noem is known for her 'kill list' of legislative goals, this hat seemed more like a 'shield list.' The commentary across the board focused on how the oversized nature of the hat distracted from whatever policy points she was attempting to make during the Fox News segment. While the late-night hosts focused on the comedy, political analysts noted that the incident highlights the scrutiny candidates face regarding their image and presentation. In the hyper-visual age of cable news and social media, even a fashion choice can become a dominant news story, overshadowing substantive policy discussions. Noem herself has not publicly addressed the viral reaction to her hat, though sources close to the governor suggest she views the attention as proof of her ability to dominate the news cycle. Ultimately, the 'Hat-gate' incident serves as a reminder of the volatile nature of modern political discourse, where a simple accessory can turn into a week-long punchline. For the late-night hosts, it was a gift of comedic fodder that required little setup other than showing the footage. As the campaign trail heats up, audiences can likely expect more visual oddities to be dissected and ridiculed by the kings and queens of late-night satire. The hat has seemingly been retired for the moment, but its memory—and the countless memes it spawned—will live on in the annals of internet history.
