In a blistering segment that has ignited fierce debate, veteran late-night host Stephen Colbert made the incendiary claim that Nazi officers were "better" than contemporary US immigration officials. The controversial remarks came during Monday's broadcast of The Late Show, as Colbert continued his relentless criticism of the Trump administration during the programme's concluding months.
Scathing Critique of Border Patrol Leadership
Colbert directed his fury specifically at Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, who recently defended Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers during a CNN interview. Bovino had been removed from overseeing operations in Minnesota following two fatal shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis that claimed the lives of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
During his monologue, Colbert played a clip of Bovino telling CNN's Dana Bash that protesters were unfairly comparing immigration officers to Nazis. "They're trying to portray Border Patrol agents and ICE agents as Gestapo, Nazis and many other words," Bovino stated in the interview.
"An Unfair Comparison"
Colbert interrupted the clip with biting sarcasm, declaring: "Yes, do not compare ICE or Border Patrol agents to the Nazis. That's an unfair comparison. The Nazis were willing to show their faces." This provocative statement formed the core of his argument that immigration officers operating with anonymity were somehow more objectionable than historically documented Nazi forces.
The comedian further attacked Bovino's characterization of Border Patrol agents as victims following the Minnesota shootings. "Bulls**t. Masked agents shooting innocent people with impunity in the streets are not victims," Colbert asserted during his broadcast.
Broader Political Commentary
Colbert expanded his critique to address the specific case of Alex Pretti, whom Trump administration officials had labeled a "domestic terrorist." The host accused the administration of "immediately blaming the victim," drawing parallels to their response following Renee Good's shooting earlier in the month.
In a moment that blended weather commentary with political protest, Colbert told his audience: "Today, more than 50 percent of Americans are digging out from a massive winter storm, freezing temperatures from Texas all the way up to Maine. It's frigid here in New York City. I want to thank everyone here who stood outside in the cold today before you came. I think we can all agree, f*** ICE."
Audience Exodus and Programme Demise
These inflammatory remarks arrive as The Late Show experiences significant viewer decline during its final season. Early Nielsen data for January revealed the programme attracted just 285,000 viewers in the advertiser-coveted 25-54 demographic—the worst performance in the show's ten-year history.
CBS and Paramount announced the cancellation of The Late Show last summer after ten seasons, citing declining late-night revenues. While network executives attributed the decision to financial considerations, some observers suggested political motivations might have influenced the move, potentially to appease one of Colbert's most powerful critics: President Donald Trump.
The Final Curtain Call
Colbert revealed during an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers that his programme's final episode will air on May 21. "It feels real now... it did not feel ... I mean, I know it was real, but now, there's four months left," he confessed, acknowledging the approaching conclusion of his decade-long tenure.
As the programme enters its twilight months, Colbert appears determined to maintain his confrontational approach toward the Trump administration, despite the evident audience erosion. His latest comments about immigration enforcement have generated substantial controversy, ensuring his final episodes will remain politically charged until the very end.
