As The Late Show nears its end, Colbert refuses to pull punches in a blistering response to Trump’s latest social media stunt

With The Late Show with Stephen Colbert set to wrap up its historic run soon, some expected the longtime host to begin winding down. Instead, Colbert is doing the opposite — charging full-speed into controversy, and doing so with the kind of surgical satire that’s defined his tenure.

Case in point: Colbert’s latest monologue, which torched President Donald Trump’s now-infamous AI-generated social media video showing him piloting a fighter jet and dumping a brown liquid on peaceful protesters. The target? Demonstrators from the nationwide “No Kings” movement, who marched on October 18 to protest what they view as Trump’s increasingly authoritarian rhetoric and actions.

But while the video itself quickly became a lightning rod, Colbert’s reaction was just as headline-worthy. Not only did the late-night host slam the video as “insane,” but he also — in a sharply ironic twist — called it “factually accurate.”

“There It Is: King Trump Crapping on America”

Colbert’s monologue aired during the September 25 episode of The Late Show, but was later published on the show’s YouTube channel on October 20, just days after the video began circulating on Truth Social.

“There it is,” Colbert said to the camera, barely disguising his disgust. “King Trump crapping on America. Which is insane — though I will grant — factually accurate.”

The remark earned loud laughter and applause from his studio audience, but the satirical barb carried a deeper message: Trump’s portrayal of himself as a ruler punishing dissent wasn’t just theatrical — it was reflective, Colbert argued, of his real-world attitude toward political opposition.

“This video was vile and violent,” Colbert continued, “and only proves the point of the No Kings march even more. What decent democratic leader would ever post a video of themselves [expletive] on peaceful protesters?”

The crowd responded with a mix of disbelief and applause, as Colbert let the weight of his rhetorical question settle. And while he’s never been shy about criticizing Trump, this particular moment struck a deeper chord, as the video’s imagery bordered on grotesque fantasy — yet came from a sitting president.

A Cancel Culture Twist

Colbert didn’t stop at criticizing the post itself. He used the moment to subtly draw a comparison between his own professional fate and the behavior of the man in the White House.

“I mean,” he asked sarcastically, “does he have a late-night show we can cancel?”

It was a pointed jab at the reality facing Colbert and other late-night hosts: cancellations, corporate restructuring, and shifting media priorities. With The Late Show set to conclude after nearly a decade on air, Colbert appeared to suggest that while entertainers are scrutinized, presidents — even when they post inflammatory content — often escape real consequences.

That irony wasn’t lost on his audience.

Silence from the Top

Colbert also called out what he described as the real problem: the silence from other political figures.

“Where are the leaders who are supposed to condemn this?” he asked. “You can’t claim to care about democracy and just scroll past the president pretending to bomb his own people.”

The monologue continued to draw attention to what Colbert sees as a pattern: performative patriotism from lawmakers who are quick to defend American values, but slow to speak out when those values are tested — particularly by someone in their own party.

Comedy as a Final Stand

In what may be his final season on The Late Show, Colbert has shown no signs of backing away from political commentary — if anything, he seems more emboldened than ever. With every monologue, he’s treating his platform less like a comedy show and more like a last-chance forum to call out what he views as dangerous political behavior, wrapped in absurd spectacle.

And while his tools remain the same — wit, sarcasm, and punchlines — his message is clearer than ever: the stakes are high, and laughter is a powerful response to those who attempt to silence dissent with spectacle.

A Fitting Response to a Surreal Moment

Trump’s AI video, filled with bizarre and juvenile imagery, was meant to humiliate and ridicule. But in Colbert’s hands, it was repurposed into a cautionary tale.

“It’s not just about a video,” Colbert said in closing. “It’s about what it means when our leaders stop pretending to respect the people they serve. When protest becomes parody, and parody becomes policy.”

That statement landed like a quiet thunderclap — a reminder of why Colbert’s voice has mattered so much to viewers over the last decade.

Final Thoughts: A Battle of Narratives

In the ongoing political theater that defines modern American discourse, moments like this are more than just viral content — they’re flashpoints. For Trump, the AI video may have been a crude way to mock opponents and energize supporters. For Colbert, it was a chance to expose what he views as a creeping disregard for democratic norms.

Whether you see it as comedy or commentary — or both — Colbert’s response stands out not just for its bite, but for its clarity. As The Late Show prepares to close its curtain, its host is making sure that the last act is memorable — and meaningful.