Stephen Colbert wonders why Trump is going to rub elbows with the globalists in Davos, and Melania isn't
America is about 239 pounds lighter, because President Trump is on his way to Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum, Stephen Colbert said on Wednesday's Late Show. Davos is a meeting of the global elite, "a bunch of fancy people who think you can solve the world's problems at an unlimited fondue bar," Colbert said. "Basically, it's what Lex Luthor would point his space laser at."
"Trump's entire campaign for president was against globalization and the world's elites, so why is he going?" Colbert asked. Apparently, French President Emmanuel Macron talked him into going. "Macron is clearly just trying to embarrass Trump here, right?" Colbert asked, breaking out a Macron impersonation. Lots of Trump's retinue is going to Davos with him, but first lady Melania Trump backed out at the last minute, citing "scheduling and logistical issues." "Yes, there were logistical issues, for instance, the weather," Colbert said slyly. "She was afraid it was going to be too stormy."
"It's another day, so there's another story of sexual harassment," Colbert said, pointing to Rep. Pat Meehan's (R-Pa.) recently disclosed unwanted romantic advances on an aide decades younger than him and settlement paid with thousands of taxpayer dollars. Meehan told his side of the story, saying he called the aide his "soul mate," but never tried to act on his romantic feelings; felt invited to share his feelings because they were sharing ice cream after work; and tried to patch things up with a weirdly personal letter. "Then it gets weird," Colbert said. Anyway, now Meehan is being investigated by the House Ethics Committee, "which has included such diehard crusaders against harassment as Congressman Pat Meehan," Colbert said. "'Wait, I was supposed to be fighting sexual harassment in Congress? Well, do I have a funny story for you.'" Watch below. 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.
-
North Carolina Supreme Court risks undermining its legitimacy
Under the radar A contentious legal battle over whether to seat one of its own members threatens not only the future of the court's ideological balance, but its role in the public sphere
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Codeword: January 14, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku hard: January 14, 2025
The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor deal
Speed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden expected to block Japanese bid for US Steel
Speed Read The president is blocking the $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battle
Speed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bitcoin surges above $100k in post-election rally
Speed Read Investors are betting that the incoming Trump administration will embrace crypto
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Enron mystery: 'sick joke' or serious revival?
Speed Read 23 years after its bankruptcy filing, the Texas energy firm has announced its resurrection
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US charges Indian tycoon with bribery, fraud
Speed Read Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been indicted by US prosecutors for his role in a $265 million scheme to secure solar energy deals
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Boeing machinists approve contract, end strike
Speed Read The company's largest union approved the new contract offer, ending a seven-week strike
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published