Stephen Colbert lavishly praises Mike Pence to troll Donald Trump
About half as many people watched Tuesday night's debate between VP nominees Gov. Mike Pence (R) and Sen. Tim Kaine (D) as watched the first debate between their running mates, Stephen Colbert said on Wednesday's Late Show, "possibly because polls show that more than 40 percent of Americans cannot name who is running for vice president — in contrast to the 90 percent of Americans who are trying desperately to forget who's running for president." Pence is the consensus debate winner, and he did well, Colbert said, "maybe too well," at least for his running mate, Donald Trump, who is reportedly displeased that Pence performed so much better than him.
"That's gotta be tough," Colbert said. "As much as I disagree with Donald Trump, the last thing I want is for the guy to feel like he's being overshadowed. I mean, Trump's very sensitive. I mean, people praising Mike Pence too much might push Trump over the edge." He paused. "Then again, Mike Pence, pretty great guy...." The next minute or so was pretty brutal — unless you are Mike Pence, and then you never had it so good.
The debate also focused a lot "on Donald Trump's other running mate, Vladimir Putin," Colbert said, which is helpful, because Pence apparently made up a proverb about Russia he quoted in the debate. Colbert produced a handsomely bound book of Pence's other fake Russian proverbs — including: "The wise polar bear prepares to be deaf when asked to defend the orange jackass," and "The fool who outperforms his master shall soon be thrown from the tower" — then ended by turning Trump's mispronunciation of "acumen" into a How to Succeed in Business-type training film for Trump University. Watch. Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
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.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
Today's political cartoons - February 1, 2025
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - broken eggs, contagious lies, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 humorously unhealthy cartoons about RFK Jr.
Cartoons Artists take on medical innovation, disease spreading, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Brodet (fish stew) recipe
The Week Recommends This hearty dish is best accompanied by a bowl of polenta
By The Week UK Published
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published