Stephen Colbert explains what the Donald Trump-Paul Ryan meeting was really about

Stephen Colbert recaps the Trump-Ryan summit

(Image credit: Late Show)

last updated 13 May 2016

Thursday's big political story was all sound and fury, Stephen Colbert said on Thursday's Late Show — or as House Speaker Paul Ryan put it, "encouraging." Colbert was referring to the big Paul Ryan-Donald Trump meeting in Washington, and he wasn't impressed. "Here's the thing: Ryan had to meet with Trump — he's the nominee — to make it look like the Republican Party is not in chaos, that someone is in control," he said. "But nothing happened, okay? That was the whole point, is for them to get together, us not to see it, and then nothing happens. It was pure theater." They should have had the meeting on Broadway, he added, breaking out the jazz hands for a West Side Story bit.

"Ryan did not endorse Trump, or poke him with a stick, or anything fun," Colbert said. "Instead they just released a joint statement saying they were 'totally committed to working together.' And when Donald Trump commits to something, he totally means it — ask any of his wives." The bottom line, he said, is that "the last 24 hours of all political news was complete B.S." The bigger story, he added, is that Trump now says he might not release his tax returns before the election. Watch Colbert go through Donald Trump's (made up) tax returns below. Peter Weber

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

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.