Stephen Colbert recaps Trump's 80-minute State of the Union in 15 minutes, with jokes
President Trump gave his second State of the Union address Tuesday night, and it "was not a particularly good speech," Stephen Colbert said on a live post-speech Late Show. "But what it lacked in quality it made up in length. This speech was like watching paint lie." Still, "early in the evening, I had high hopes," he added, "especially when CNN teased us with this graphic: 'Trump Leaves White House Soon.'"
The Democratic women wore suffragette white to the speech, "so the Democratic side was a sea of white — and the Republican side, also a sea of white," Colbert said. Trump "started with a call for bipartisanship," then "took a moment to tout American greatness," and bragged about the "hot" economy, he recapped, slipping into his Trump voice: "It is so hot, if it wasn't my economy, perhaps I'd be dating it."
As "the evening went on, and on," Colbert said, "it was pretty raucous on the Republican side," but Democrats got "a not-so-subtle threat" from Trump. He paraphrased: "You heard me, you get the truth or a functioning economy, okay? Keep in mind, I turned this sucker off for a month over a wall. You think I won't burn this place to the ground to stay out of jail? ... You can't have investigation and legislation. Who ever heard of law and order? Come on."
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.
"Trump was bravely willing to take credit for any good thing that happened in the country," including getting Democratic women elected to Congress," Colbert laughed. The president also announced he's meeting North Korea's Kim Jong Un on Feb. 27-28 in Vietnam — "unless my bone spurs act up, in which case I'm sending Eric." Trump "brought it all home with a simple plea" to "choose greatness, no matter the trials we face," and Colbert agreed. "Well in that case, sir, I choose you face a trial because that will be great." 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.
-
Foreigners in Spain facing a 100% tax on homes as the country battles a housing crisis
Under the Radar The goal is to provide 'more housing, better regulation and greater aid,' said Spain's prime minister
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Codeword: January 22, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku medium: January 22, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku 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