Stephen Colbert brought his signature humor to his final live episode of The Late Show, starting off with a fun take on Wicked. He was clearly excited, especially after President Donald Trump’s lengthy State of the Union address—over an hour and 45 minutes!
Colbert quipped, “It was incredibly long,” poking fun at how Senator Jon Ossoff seemed to age into Jon Voight during the speech. He shared that he prepared for the intense evening by enjoying an edible, jokingly channeling Michelle Obama with “when they go low, we get high.”
As he critiqued the theme of the speech—America being “strong, prosperous, and respected”—he remarked that if you have to remind everyone how strong you are, it might mean the opposite is true. It was like being invited to a birthday party where the guest of honor insists they’re having a great time while clearly sweating bullets.
Colbert wasn’t shy about targeting Trump’s approval ratings, which were a low 36% when he spoke. He also called out Trump for various boasts, including the controversial Trump Account for Kids and cuts to food stamp programs. “Throughout his speech, Trump showed remarkable flexibility for a man his age to toot his own horn,” Colbert stated, adding that the tone of the address was filled with divisive lies, suggesting it likely wouldn’t sway any disillusioned voters.
Later in the episode, Colbert was joined by former CBS News anchor John Dickerson for further discussion. The episode highlighted the stark contrasts in political messaging and public perception, making it clear that humor remains a powerful lens to view political events.
Recent surveys show that many Americans are equally fatigued by polarizing politics. A 2023 study by Pew Research found that 63% of Americans feel stressed about political divisiveness. Colbert’s commentary is a reminder of how late-night humor can reflect wider societal sentiments, making complex issues feel more relatable.
As we look back on this moment, it’s clear that both late-night comedy and political discourse have evolved. Comedy remains an important outlet for public expression, often urging us to think critically about leadership and accountability.
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SOTU,The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
