Stephen Colbert launched his final live episode of The Late Show with a parody of Wicked, displaying clear enthusiasm following President Donald Trump’s first State of the Union address in his second term. The show started nearly 30 minutes late after Trump’s speech set a new record for length, exceeding one hour and 45 minutes.
Colbert’s Opening Jokes on Speech Length and Theme
“It was incredibly long,” Colbert remarked, adding humor by noting that Senator Jon Ossoff appeared to transform into Jon Voight during the event. He shared, “I didn’t know what to expect. These are always kind of rough with Trump, so just to smooth things out right before the speech, I dropped an edible and strapped in.” Colbert referenced Michelle Obama’s advice: “When they go low, we get high.”
He poked fun at the speech’s official theme, “America at 250: Strong, Prosperous, and Respected,” observing, “Though, if you have to say you’re strong, prosperous and respected, it kind of feels like you’re not. It’s like getting an invite to Sheila’s 50th [birthday]. Single, happy and absolutely loving menopause. Is it hot in here? It’s hot in here. Let’s punch a wall.”
Targeting Trump’s Approval Ratings and Policy Claims
Colbert highlighted President Trump’s job approval rating at 36%. He satirized Trump’s mentions of the Trump Account for Kids program (which Trump claimed he did not name), the removal of 2.4 million people from food stamps, and a push for the Congressional Medal of Freedom for himself.
“Throughout his speech tonight, Trump showed remarkable flexibility for a man his age to toot his own horn,” Colbert quipped. He described the address as “a dark speech filled with divisive lies, and it’s unlikely to win him much support with the voters who have grown disenchanted with the chaos and dysfunction of the second administration.”
Later, former CBS News anchor John Dickerson joined Colbert on the show.
