Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers are skeptical Trump had the goods on Soleimani, demand 'better lies'


A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
"It's been a couple of days since the Iran almost-war," and "with the perspective of time, we can ask: Was any of this legal?" Stephen Colbert asked on Thursday's Late Show. "The administration says yes, the drone strike was completely justified because they were heading off an 'imminent' attack," but "so far, [President] Trump hasn't provided any evidence of that." Top-level Trump officials briefed Congress on Wednesday, but lots of lawmakers left decidedly unpersuaded.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) called it "the worst briefing" he can recall and an insult to Congress and the Constitution. Colbert co-signed that sentiment, plus some: "This is insulting to the American people. Has everyone already forgotten what happens when we don't ask for concrete evidence justifying a military attack against a Middle Eastern country whose name begins with Ira?" Back in 2002, "George W. Bush respected us enough to put some effort into his lies," he said, and Bush had Colin Powell to spread them.
Instead of a trusted figure like Powell, Trump has Vice President Mike Pence, Colbert said. "Did you get that? Pence has seen all the evidence, but you won't ever see it because it goes to another school in Canada and it's super hot, and he totally got to third base with it — which, for Mike Pence, is sharing fro-yo. And I say, before giving the president the authority to attack another Middle Eastern country, we must demand better lies. We deserve better lies!" After all, he said, our tax dollars are paying for them.
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.
To wit:
Trump insisted Thursday morning that "numerous" lawmakers told him it was "the best" briefing, noted Late Night's Seth Meyers. "Oh, numerous senators said that? Which ones? 'You wouldn't know them, they go to a different school in Canada.'"
"Trump and his team have tried to justify this strike by claiming [Gen. Qassem] Soleimani posed an 'imminent' threat," Meyers said, but "it is becoming increasingly clear that a lawless president violated the Constitution to order the assassination of a foreign official, and then lied about it. And the only people cheering him on are the reckless warmongers who've lied us into war before. But now, members of both parties want to rein Trump in," and the House has already taken the first step.
The Daily Show brought in the full team to explore why Trump ordered Soleimani's killing, with a lighter touch. Peter Weber
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Peter Weber is a senior editor at TheWeek.com, and has handled the editorial night shift since the website launched in 2008. A graduate of Northwestern University, Peter has worked at Facts on File and The New York Times Magazine. He speaks Spanish and Italian and plays bass and rhythm cello in an Austin rock band. Follow him on Twitter.
-
Exodus begins from Burning Man after desert mud trapped tens of thousands
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
'Margaritaville' singer Jimmy Buffett dies at 76
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
American Airlines suing website that offers tickets via price loopholes
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Federal agencies investigating near miss between Southwest jet and private plane
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Euphoria' star Angus Cloud dies at 25
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Pee-wee Herman actor Paul Reubens dies at 70
Speed Read
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
Trader Joe's recalls 4 products in a week amid reports of rocks and insects inside food
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Emmys to be postponed for first time since after 9/11 due to strikes
Speed Read
By Brendan Morrow Published