Stephen Colbert mocks the GOP's flirtation with quashing Trump's tariffs, favors impeachment and jail
Thursday was the 75th anniversary of D-Day, "when we beat the Nazis once and for ... until very recently," Stephen Colbert said on Thursday's Late Show. "President Trump was in Normandy to commemorate the occasion, and he gave a speech that was by all accounts — and I hope I'm pronouncing this correctly — 'presidential.' Haven't seen that word in a while. That all came to a screeching halt once he wasn't reading somebody else's words." He ran through Trump's comments at a press conference after the ceremony.
"The president is, of course, facing his own battles back home," Colbert said, pointing to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's reported comment to her top lieutenants about Trump: "I don't want to see him impeached, I want to see him in prison." Okay, Colbert said, "but why do we have to choose?" Still, Republicans are getting restive, too, flirting with quashing Trump's tariffs on all Mexican goods. "Oh, really? Flirting?" he asked, laughing. "Flirting with rebellion? That could lead to a dalliance with integrity, maybe making eyes with governance, and then at the Christmas party, a drunken hookup with defending the Constitution."
Seriously, the pending tax on Mexican imports is a bad idea, Colbert said. "Everyone is going to feel these tariffs. Our top four agricultural imports from Mexico are beer, avocados, tomatoes, and tequila. Trump is putting a tariff on summer!" But rumors that Republicans might actually do something about it "were shoved into a shallow grave" by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who's hoping Mexico works this out with Trump, he said. "In other words, McConnell wants the Mexicans to do the jobs American politicians won't do." 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.
-
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
-
Crossword: January 22, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Codeword: January 22, 2025
The Week's daily codeword 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