Stephen Colbert finds the most shocking thing in Trump's tweet-gloating on Andrew McCabe's firing
"Are you guys enjoying March Madness?" Stephen Colbert asked on Monday's Late Show. "Speaking of madness, Donald Trump. We're on the brink of another crisis? Because it really feels like Donald Trump is gearing up to fire" Special Counsel Robert Mueller. The first clue was when Trump lawyer John Dowd released a statement calling for Mueller's investigation to be scrapped, writing in purple comic sans font. "Now that sounds inappropriate until you remember that the Declaration of Independence was originally written in wingdings," Colbert joked. But Trump tweet-attacking Comey by name really raised the stakes, prompting even some Republicans to express mild alarm.
Like Sen. Lindsey Grahm (R-S.C.), who said Trump firing Mueller would be "the beginning of the end of his presidency." "Wait, it's not even the beginning of the end of his presidency?" Colbert protested. "I thought we were at least at the middle of the beginning of the end! I should have gone to the bathroom when Reince Priebus left — now I gotta hold it till the midterms." Trump is clearly in a firing mood, he added, pointing to the sacking of FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, two days before his retirement, putting his $60,000-a-year pension at risk. "$60,000 — that's, like, half a porn star payment," Colbert said.
Now, McCabe was being investigated by the FBI inspector general, "so to avoid looking like he's trying to shut down the Russia investigation, all Trump had to do was not dance on McCabe's grave," Colbert said, reading the inevitable grave-dancing tweet. "Let that tweet sink in for a second: This is the sitting president of the United States gloating about firing a respected career FBI official and smearing another FBI official whose firing led to the appointment of the special counsel — and none of that shocks me as much as the fact that he spelled 'sanctimonious' correctly." And Trump's Twitter fingers were just getting started. 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.
-
Today's political cartoons - November 24, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - taped bananas, flying monkeys, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The Spanish cop, 20 million euros and 13 tonnes of cocaine
In the Spotlight Óscar Sánchez Gil, Chief Inspector of Spain's Economic and Tax Crimes Unit, has been arrested for drug trafficking
By The Week UK Published
-
5 hilarious cartoons about the rise and fall of Matt Gaetz
Cartoons Artists take on age brackets, backbiting, and more
By 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
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published