Stephen Colbert makes a grab for Fox News viewers by moderating a Trump vs. Trump debate
Donald Trump predicted that with him sitting out Thursday night's Republican debate in Des Moines, Iowa, Fox News would see its ratings plummet. Stephen Colbert, after mocking Trump's decision to skip the debate because he doesn't like moderator Megyn Kelly — "after all, why would he want to practice going head-to-head against a strong blonde woman?" — basically agreed with Trump's assessment of the debate audience.
"With zero Trump in tonight's debate, there are now 24 million viewers up for grabs, and I am grabbing them," Colbert said on Thursday's Late Show. "If Fox News has no Trump, then I am all Trump." And so he hosted his own "top tremendous all-you-can-Trump luxury presidential debate," featuring just one candidate. "Tonight, the leading Republican faces off against arguably his greatest opponent: himself," Colbert said, introducing Donald and Mr. Trump. "You know the rules: You say the first thing that comes into your mind, and no matter what it is, your poll numbers go up."
The debate consisted of Trump saying one thing on TV, then contradicting himself in another clip — sort of like the treatment Kelly gave Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz in the real Fox News debate. There are some pretty big stinkers in there, but Colbert ended on a gracious note: "I want to thank Donald Trump for being just as divided as this country is." Watch below. Peter Weber
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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
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