Stephen Colbert weighs the pros and cons of President Oprah, considers if Trump is actually, like, really smart


"Did anyone here see last night's episode of Oprah?" Stephen Colbert asked on Monday's Late Show. "Now, some people are calling it the Golden Globes," but Oprah Winfrey's speech clearly stole the show. "People were immediately calling that speech presidential — and a year ago, I would have agreed," he said. "These days, it played a little coherent."
There are upsides to the idea of a President Oprah, but "I offer a note of caution," Colbert said: "Do we really want to elect another billionaire TV star? Granted, this one is actually a billionaire and actually a TV star." But Oprah seems reasonable enough to consider that "being a billionaire TV star doesn't necessarily qualify you to have the launch codes," he added. "Then again, if we ever did go toe-to-toe with North Korea, I believe she could calm Kim Jong Un down just by helping him lose weight." Even Trump thinks Oprah belongs in the White House, he noted, though Trump was "delusional" enough back in 1999 to believe she would agree to be his vice president.
Fire and Fury author Michael Wolff was on Monday's Late Show, and his tell-all about the Trump White House "is just packed with nuggets of ohmygod," Colbert said. "If you have not read it yet, here are the CliffsNotes: Trump dumb, staff worried." The book has stirred new doubts about Trump's fitness to be president, "but on Saturday, Trump slapped back the notion that he's incompetent" with a series of tweets that raised new doubts of their own, Colbert said. He had a fine time reading through them.
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.
The main source for Wolff's book was Stephen Bannon, who savaged Trump and his family. "But after getting attacked by the president and threatened with losing his job, he folded like an origami cuck," Colbert said, noting that his apology to Trump and his family (not accepted) was less than comprehensive. 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.
-
Film reviews: The Phoenician Scheme, Bring Her Back, and Jane Austen Wrecked My Life
Feature A despised mogul seeks a fresh triumph, orphaned siblings land with a nightmare foster mother, and a Jane fan finds herself in a love triangle
-
Music reviews: Tune-Yards and PinkPantheress
Feature "Better Dreaming" and "Fancy That"
-
Withdrawing 529 plan funds for college? Here's what to know.
the explainer Maximize the amount you have stashed away for your education
-
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