Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel contextualize Trump's unholy prayer breakfast 'pity party'
President Trump is not going to start coloring within the lines after being impeached, "and this morning, Trump began his toxic victory shamble at the most appropriate place for vengeance: the National Prayer Breakfast," Stephen Colbert said on Wednesday's Late Show. "You know what they say: The prayer breakfast is the angriest meal of the day. Trump, clearly humbled by his impeachment, began with a very contrite fist pump."
"The keynote speaker of the breakfast was a man named Arthur Brooks, who had an important message of forgiveness," urging everyone to "love your enemies," Colbert said. "What a beautiful sentiment, and so appropriate following this divisive impeachment. The president immediately followed that" by slamming Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "Romney was the only Republican who voted to convict Trump, and he justified his decision by citing his oath to God," while Pelosi earned Trump's wrath by saying "she prays for him," Colbert said, playing clips of Trump calling them both liars. "Wait, how can he know what someone's really praying? Oh no! Did he get the Russian to hack God?!?"
Eventually, "Trump forgot about the prayer thing altogether and just launched the ramble on the Mount," Colbert said. "Trump's performance was so inappropriate that even Fox News summed it up as: 'Trump Slams Opponents at National Prayer Breakfast.'" Then "Trump's pity party made another pit stop shortly after noon today in the East Room of the White House," and even Trump acknowledged "the whole thing was a weird event," he said. Colbert played one part where Trump let fly an expletive, noting he had to beep it out "because CBS has higher standards than the president of the United States."
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.
The National Prayer Breakfast "is supposed to be a nonpartisan event," Jimmy Kimmel said at Kimmel Live. "Every president since Dwight Eisenhower has been to the prayer breakfast, including President Obama, to whom Trump loves to compare himself. So for comparison's sake, we did that, too, and this is what it's like to be at a prayer breakfast with President Obama versus President Trump." 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.
-
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