Stephen Colbert has a big question about Donald Trump's Julian Assange tweets

On Thursday, Sen. John McCain's Senate Armed Services Committee held hearings on Russian hacking of the U.S. presidential election, and Stephen Colbert said on The Late Show that while the heads of the U.S. intelligence agencies said there's no doubt Russia was behind the hacks, President-elect Donald Trump has been listening more to "middle-aged Draco Malfoy" Julian Assange than U.S. spy chiefs. Or at least he had been — on Thursday morning, Trump appeared to back away from Assange in two tweets in which he said of Assange: "I simply state what he states, it is for the people.... to make up their own minds as to the truth."
"That's true leadership," Colbert said. "Just type any claim you hear and let people decide what's true. Like: 'Billy told me if a boy and a girl touch butts the girl gets pregnant. True? You decide. Sad!'" He and bandleader Jon Batiste got lost in that joke for a minute, then Colbert snapped back: "Here's what's really weird about Trump's Julian Assange tweet. He tweeted the first part of this sentence at 8:25 a.m., but finished the thought 20 minutes later. How can he have a plan for America when he doesn't have a plan for the end of a sentence?"
"But enough about hacking our democracy, let's get to the big news," Colbert said, meaning former American Idol runner-up Bo Bice complaining of "racial prejudice" because he was called "white boy" at a Popeye's Chicken in the Atlanta airport. After mocking Bice, Colbert ended with a Utah legislator's plan to open the pornography industry to lawsuits — and a look at what the inevitable TV ads for pornography lawyers might look like. 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 - March 8, 2025
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - trade wars, healthcare costs, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Marbled tea eggs recipe
The Week Recommends With a beautiful exterior, these eggs are also marked by their soft yolk
By The Week UK Published
-
The Washington Post: kowtowing to Trump?
Talking Point The newspaper's opinion editor has handed in his notice following edict from Jeff Bezos
By The Week UK Published
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
By Peter Weber, The Week US 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