Stephen Colbert resurrects his Colbert Report 'The Word' segment to define 'Trumpiness'

Stephen Colbert resurrects &quot;The Word&quot;

(Image credit: Late Show)

published 19 July 2016

Stephen Colbert celebrated the Republican National Convention's opening night on Monday's Late Show by reuniting with some old Comedy Central friends, Jon Stewart and "Stephen Colbert." "Hello, nation," the Colbert Report Colbert said. "Did you miss me? I know I did. Well, it's time to say aloha to Stephen Colbert, and aloha to Stephen Colbert." The audience was especially excited when Colbert resurrected "The Word," Colbert's old poke at Fox News frenemy Bill O'Reilly.

"Just to remind you, 11 years ago, I invented a word: truthiness," Colbert said, with "Trademark Viacom @2005, All Rights Reserved" written in the "Word" box, where most of the jokes happen. "You see, truthiness is believing something that feels true, even if it isn't supported by fact." He said that he (the Colbert Report Colbert) and Trump have a lot in common, both being "over-the-top TV personalities who decided to run for president," though Trump has surpassed him now. "Truthiness has to feel true, but Trumpiness doesn't even have to do that," he explained. "In fact, many Trump supporters don't believe his wildest promises, and they don't care." He cited the border wall as an example.

"If he doesn't ever have to mean what he says, that means he can say anything," Colbert said. "Here's the deal: Truthiness was from the gut, but Trumpiness clearly comes from much further down the gastrointestinal tract." He wrapped up with a genuinely good summation of Trump's base of support, a reminder of why his Colbert Report faux pundit persona was so effective: "And that is why I believe Donald Trump is a leader for our times: an emotional megaphone for voters full of rage at a government that achieves nothing, an economic system that leaves them behind, and politics that elects people unfit for the job. And if you don't share their feeling that you don't recognize your country anymore, trust me, if Trump wins, you will." 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.