Jimmy Fallon’s Trump Jokes, Beyoncé Surprise & McGregor Backlash
Jimmy Fallon has found himself at the centre of several widely discussed moments in September 2026, from jokes about US President Donald Trump on The Tonight Show to an unexpected Beyoncé yearbook reveal and a candid story about nearly freezing during Chicago’s Polar Plunge.
The late-night host has also faced criticism over his decision to interview UFC fighter Conor McGregor earlier this year, adding another controversial chapter to a busy period for the longtime NBC presenter.
Jimmy Fallon Mocks Trump Over His AI Comments
One of Fallon’s most recent political comedy segments focused on Donald Trump’s comments about artificial intelligence.
During his September 14 monologue on The Tonight Show, Fallon responded to a Truth Social post in which Trump said AI’s only necessary “guardrails” were a “strong and smart (High IQ!) president.” Fallon sarcastically suggested that viewers should feel reassured, before joking about whether Trump could even beat the word game Wordle.
Fallon also joked about Trump potentially challenging ChatGPT to a cognitive test and made several other jokes about the president’s relationship with artificial intelligence.
The segment came amid a broader US debate over how AI should be regulated and whether additional safeguards are necessary. Fallon’s comments were presented as late-night political satire rather than a policy analysis.
Fallon has also recently used his monologue to joke about Trump’s actions involving the Kennedy Center. In a September 17 segment, he referenced Trump’s criticism of the institution and joked about the president’s reported plans involving the venue.
Fallon Gets a Surprise Beyoncé Yearbook Reveal
Away from politics, Fallon recently received an unexpected piece of Houston pop-culture history.
During an interview with Houston television correspondent Lauren Kelly, Fallon learned that Kelly had attended middle school with Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland.
Kelly brought her 1995 yearbook to the interview, showing photographs of the future music stars from their school days. Fallon’s immediate reaction was one of surprise, as he asked Kelly whether she had really gone to school with Beyoncé.
Kelly recalled Beyoncé and Rowland as talented and down-to-earth students who were already singing at the time.
Fallon was also interested in Kelly’s own yearbook photograph and joked about the appearance of the 1995 picture. The exchange eventually led him to suggest that yearbooks could even become a segment on The Tonight Show.
The interview also gave Fallon an opportunity to remember his own visit to Houston, including his experience at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, where he tried cattle roping and sampled Texas barbecue.
Jimmy Fallon Recalls His Terrifying Chicago Polar Plunge
Another recent Fallon interview brought back a much older memory — his experience taking part in Chicago’s Polar Plunge.
Speaking with NBC Chicago’s Stefan Holt, Fallon recalled participating in the event in March 2014 as part of a fundraiser benefiting Special Olympics.
The comedian described jumping into the freezing waters of Lake Michigan as one of the scariest experiences of his life. After getting out of the water, he heard bagpipes played by the Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band.
Fallon joked that the experience was so intense that he felt as though he had “seen the other side.”
The interview also touched on several other Chicago and entertainment topics, but the Polar Plunge story quickly became one of the standout moments because of Fallon’s dramatic description of the freezing-water experience.
Conor McGregor Interview Brings Backlash
Fallon also faced criticism earlier this year after welcoming Conor McGregor onto The Tonight Show in June.
McGregor appeared on the program ahead of his planned UFC comeback. The conversation focused largely on his return to competition and his career, but the appearance generated criticism because of the civil case involving Nikita Hand.
In November 2024, an Irish civil jury found McGregor liable in a case brought by Hand over an alleged 2018 sexual assault. McGregor denied the allegation and maintained that the encounter was consensual. His appeal against the judgment was rejected by Ireland’s Court of Appeal in 2025.
Critics subsequently questioned why the Tonight Show interview did not address the case. Several public figures and commentators also criticized Fallon’s decision to give McGregor a major television platform.
The controversy became a significant discussion around the interview, particularly because McGregor was using the appearance to promote his return to the UFC.
A Busy Period for Jimmy Fallon
From political satire to celebrity revelations and personal stories, September has provided Fallon with plenty of material both on and away from The Tonight Show.
His recent Trump jokes have placed him in the ongoing conversation around late-night political comedy, while the Beyoncé yearbook story offered a lighter pop-culture moment. Meanwhile, his Polar Plunge recollection gave viewers a glimpse into a memorable experience from before his current round of interviews and television appearances.
At the same time, the renewed discussion surrounding his McGregor interview demonstrates how celebrity talk-show appearances can attract scrutiny beyond the entertainment value of the programme.
With The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon entering another season, the host continues to combine celebrity interviews, comedy sketches, personal stories and topical monologues — ensuring that his appearances remain part of the wider entertainment conversation.