Stephen Colbert marvels that Trump even made firing James Comey all about Trump


President Trump fired FBI Director James Comey about 10 minutes before Stephen Colbert took the stage to tape Tuesday's Late Show, so all those live shows really paid off. He began by noting the irony of Trump firing Comey for hurting Hillary Clinton during the election, in his Trump voice: "Thanks for the presidency, Jimmy. Now don't let the door hit you where the Electoral College split ya."
Colbert read Trump's letter to Comey, which alleged that Comey had told him three times that he is not under investigation. "Does everything have to be about him?" he asked, switching into Trump voice again: "While I greatly appreciate you telling me that I am amazing lover, I am leaving you for a younger woman, on the advice of the Department of Justice." Colbert promised more Trump-Comey jokes on Wednesday night's show, after "they scramble to cover this whole thing up," adding, "but speaking of cover-ups, this whole Trump campaign-Russia tie thing will not go away, no matter how many times Trump tweets that the whole thing has gone away."
Colbert spent the next few minutes catching up on the developments in the Russia investigation, including the testimony of former acting Attorney General Sally Yates and other news. "We learned that during their first meeting after the election, Obama warned Trump about hiring Flynn — and it was just as effective as Obama warning America about hiring Trump," Colbert said. Trump seems unswayed by the revelations, too, at least on Twitter. Still, Colbert had some advice: "Mr. President, a little tip: When you put 'no evidence' in quotes, it really makes you seem 'innocent.'"
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.
In the second half of the monologue, Colbert focused on the GOP health-care bill, starting with a gaffe from Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho) at a town hall, where he said nobody dies from lack of health care. "He's right, they die from saying things like that to an angry mob with nothing to lose," Colbert joked. Labrador conceded that his remark "wasn't very elegant," and Colbert laughed. "Oh, the problem isn't what he said, it's that it wasn't said 'elegantly.'" So he put on a monocle and grabbed a cigarette holder and repeated Labrador's line. He finished with a mashup between the School House Rocks cartoon about how a bill becomes a law and Return of the Jedi. Watch below. Peter Weber
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.
-
How to create a healthy 'germier' home
Under The Radar Exposure to a broad range of microbes can enhance our immune system, especially during childhood
-
George Floyd: Did Black Lives Matter fail?
Feature The momentum for change fades as the Black Lives Matter Plaza is scrubbed clean
-
National debt: Why Congress no longer cares
Feature Rising interest rates, tariffs and Trump's 'big, beautiful' bill could sent the national debt soaring
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposes
speed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
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
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
-
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
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
-
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