Stephen Colbert has his doubts Trump would have rushed in to tackle a school shooter
Donald Trump has been president for more than a year, and "at this point I go to bed every night believing there's nothing he could say or do that would possibly surprise me," Stephen Colbert said on Monday's Late Show. "Then the sun comes up." Even though Trump's proposal to arm teachers "has not been received well by people who have had or been a teacher," he said, Trump doubled down Monday.
"Trump's saying arm the teachers because if you're in the pocket of the NRA, like he is, the solution is never fewer guns — the solution is always more guns," Colbert said, but the armed, trained deputies at the Parkland, Florida, high school did not rush in to confront the shooter. "Who among us, really, could honestly say what they think they would do in that same situation?" he asked, and the answer, of course, was Trump. "There's a lot in there that I doubt, but the part I really don't believe is that he can run."
"Look, sir, we already know how you react to combat situations," Colbert said. "What are you going to do? Run in there and stab him with your bone spurs? ... As long as you're living in a fantasy world, sir, at least make it interesting."
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 NRA isn't emerging unscathed, with more than a dozen companies scrapping discounts and other perks for NRA members, Colbert said. "I didn't even know these discounts existed! Are there other weapons-related savings we should be taking advantage of? Does Olive Garden have a special 'Show your machete, get free spaghetti'?" FedEx is sticking with the NRA, though, Colbert said, and he made an iffy joke about going postal. He ended with the Olympics and the nepotism highlighted by the leader of the U.S. delegation, "Ivanka Trump, shown here carrying on the proud Trump family tradition of getting something she did not earn." 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.
-
The best new music of 2024 by genre
The Week Recommends Outstanding albums, from pop to electro and classical
By The Week UK Published
-
Nine best TV shows of 2024 to binge this Christmas
The Week Recommends From Baby Reindeer and Slow Horses to Rivals and Shogun, here are the critics' favourites
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: December 28, 2024
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
By The Week Staff 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
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published