Stephen Colbert sticks up for Trump's 'shithole countries'
"All week long, President Trump has tried desperately to convince us that he is a stable, steady leader," Stephen Colbert said on Thursday's Late Show. "It was a nice act, but like many men his age, he can only keep it up for so long. Today he returned to the same unstable, reactionary president we've come to know and... know." He began with Trump's vulgar comments about Haiti, El Salvador, and African nations. "Sir, they're not 'shithole countries,'" Colbert said. "For one, Donald Trump isn't their president."
"But that wasn't the only packet of international crazy sauce he squirted out today," Colbert noted, mentioning Trump's statement that he "probably" has "a very good relationship" with North Korea's Kim Jong Un. "Probably? That is definitely terrifying," he said. "How do you not know if you have a relationship with someone?" Trump also claimed he knows "more about wedges than any human being that's lived," and Colbert found that plausible "Oh sir, you are a wedge," he said, pausing, "the simplest of tools."
Colbert also noted Trump's odd Twitter flip-flop on FISA, with a two-hour break between his break from his own position and his follow-up clarification, which ends, "Get smart!" "We need to get smart?" Colbert asked. "You're the only one live-tweeting a debate with yourself that you're losing!"
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.
Colbert pointed to Trump's press conference with Norway's prime minister — in which Trump touted the sale of F-52 fighter jets, an "aircraft does not actually exist," he noted. "That's how good our stealth technology has gotten. We're making planes even we can't see." Trump also said he didn't think he would need to speak with Special Counsel Robert Mueller. "Yeah, why would Mueller want to interview Trump in an investigation about Trump?" Colbert asked. "I mean, watch any cop show: 'Excuse me, sir, the lab found blood stains in your car. I have zero questions, you're free to go.'" 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.
-
Magazine solutions - February 7, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - February 7, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - February 7, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - February 7, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
Hands-on experiences that let travelers connect with the culture
The Week Recommends Sharpen your sense of place through these engaging activities
By Catherine Garcia, 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
-
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