During his State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress, Donald Trump spent much of the evening celebrating what he described as the successes of his first year back in office. He also outlined the Republican Party’s priorities as the country heads toward the midterm elections, portraying his administration as delivering sweeping change.
Later that night, Stephen Colbert devoted a significant portion of his Late Show monologue to breaking down the speech in his signature satirical style.
Colbert joked that at one point the president appeared to “take a moment to sell drugs,” referencing Trump’s comments about lowering prescription drug prices. In the address, Trump claimed he was ending what he called inflated medication costs and suggested that previous presidents had failed to accomplish the same goal. Colbert responded with a sarcastic riff, poking fun at the wording and delivery of those remarks.
He also seized on a moment when Trump acknowledged taking prescription medication himself. Colbert quipped that it was a “refreshing admission,” before delivering a punchline that drew loud laughter from the studio audience.
The comedian’s ongoing criticism of Trump has attracted renewed attention in recent months, especially amid speculation surrounding CBS’s decision to end The Late Show in 2026.
In July, Colbert publicly criticized both Trump and Paramount over a reported $16 million settlement related to a lawsuit the president filed concerning edits to a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 election. Colbert described the settlement in blunt terms during his broadcast, suggesting it raised serious concerns about media independence and financial influence.
Just days after those comments, CBS announced that The Late Show would conclude in May 2026, marking the end of Colbert’s tenure. The network praised him as “irreplaceable” and confirmed the franchise would retire alongside him.
Trump addressed the cancellation on Truth Social, denying that he was solely responsible for the network’s decision. However, he also criticized Colbert’s performance and claimed the show had been losing money.
Colbert will sign off after nearly a decade as host. He stepped into the role in September 2015, succeeding David Letterman and becoming one of late night television’s most prominent political voices.
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