Stephen Colbert is pushing back against the notion that his comedic jabs at President Donald Trump are rooted in partisan politics. In a recent interview with The New York Times, the 61-year-old host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert clarified his stance.
Colbert's Defense of His Comedy
“I don’t have any problem with Trump being a Republican,” Colbert stated. “I have a problem with Trump being a complete narcissist who is only working for his own interest and does not appear to care if the entire world burns. That’s not a partisan position.” He further argued that labeling late-night comedy as partisan is a form of “roughing the ref,” adding, “Partisan means you’re never, ever going to make a joke about a Democrat, and that’s just not true. There’s just no comparison of how fertile the fields are.”
Trump's Criticism of Late-Night Hosts
President Trump has frequently targeted Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and Jon Stewart. Recently, Trump called for Kimmel to be “immediately fired” after a joke about Melania Trump resembling “an expectant widow” ahead of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. Following Trump’s demand, the National Religious Board filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) against ABC.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has been transparent about scrutinizing how talk show hosts discuss Trump, enforcing the equal time rule. Earlier this year, Carr clashed with Colbert after the host claimed CBS blocked an interview with a Democratic Senate candidate. CBS later clarified that Colbert was “not prohibited” but advised that airing it could trigger equal time provisions.
Colbert on Authoritarianism
Colbert told the Times that the Trump administration and FCC target him because he is unafraid to criticize them. “Authoritarians don’t like anybody who doesn’t give them undue dignity,” he said. “Comedians are anti-authoritarian by nature. And authoritarians are never going to like anybody to laugh at them.” He added, “I think it might be upsetting that we really do not live in their world of principalities and powers.”
The End of The Late Show
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, known for its frequent critiques of Trump, will air its final episode in May, as announced by CBS last year. The network cited “purely a financial decision,” but speculation arose that the cancellation might appease Trump, given Paramount’s reliance on FCC approval for its $8 billion sale to Skydance. Colbert expressed surprise, noting that CBS had encouraged him to sign a longer contract in 2023.
