Stephen Colbert shows Trump waving his 'secret' Mexico deal 'to appreciate what a bizarre person' leads the U.S.

President Trump is threatening tariffs on $300 billion more of Chinese goods if Chinese President Xi Jinping doesn't meet with him at an upcoming G-20 summit. The Daily Show's Trevor Noah found that threat sad, but on Tuesday's Late Show, Stephen Colbert laughed it off as "a pretty aggressive invitation. It's like sending out an evite that says 'Come to Rick's barbecue if you ever want to see your family again.'"
Trump also keeps insisting he reached a secret deal with Mexico. "Yesterday, Mexico's foreign minister said that no secret immigration deal existed between his country and the United States," Colbert said. "So today, Trump answered his doubters in a way that I think deserves that we just take a moment ... to appreciate what a bizarre person is leading our country." He asked viewers to imagine any other president holding up a folded sheet of paper they claim is a secret deal they won't let anyone else read.
But it turns out, "you can actually read what it says," Colbert said. "Once again, Trump is foiled by his arch-nemeses, sunlight and reading." He read what he wished the agreement included, then said it actually contains "kind of boilerplate" language about Mexico having 45 days to stem the flow of migrants, "but there's nothing in there that's a secret thing that we haven't heard about before." He lightheartedly struggled to make sense of Trump's explanation for when he could reveal the secret deal that everybody already knows about.
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.
Jimmy Fallon was also bemused by Trump's secret sheet of paper — and he also claimed to know what it said. "Yeah, here at The Tonight Show, we find out those types of things," he joked. "It says: 'Do you want to make an agreement? Sí or No?'" Fallon then tricked audience members into dressing up like a raptor. 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.
-
Thrilling must-see operas for 2025
The Week Recommends From Carmen to Peter Grimes, these are the UK's top productions
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
There is a 'third state' between life and death
Under the radar Cells can develop new abilities after their source organism dies
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Is it worth getting an interest-only mortgage?
The Explainer Your monthly payments may be cheaper but the full mortgage amount will need to be paid back eventually
By Marc Shoffman, The Week UK Published
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
By Peter Weber, The Week US 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