The Late Show with Stephen Colbert returned to the stage of the Ed Sullivan Theater after a brief hiatus, and host Stephen Colbert did not waste any time diving into the latest news. One of the topics that Colbert discussed was President Trump‘s recent appointment as chairman of the Kennedy Center, a move that has left the arts community concerned.
Colbert described the atmosphere at the Kennedy Center as “grim,” especially after leaked audio recordings revealed Trump’s desire to make the institution’s programming more conservative and feature “nonwoke” musicals. The president cited examples such as Cats, Fiddler on the Roof, and Phantom of the Opera, leading Colbert to joke about a potential mashup of all three.
It is no surprise that Trump would be interested in the theater, as he had previously aspired to be a theater producer. Colbert humorously imagined Trump deciding which plays to produce, suggesting that classics like A Raisin in the Sun might be replaced with more unconventional choices.
As the leading arts institution in the nation, the Kennedy Center has a history of hosting prestigious events, including the Kennedy Center Honors. Trump even floated the idea of hosting the show himself, prompting Colbert to offer a humorous trade – he would host the honors while Trump becomes the president once again.
Colbert went on to discuss Trump’s comments about a portrait of himself that hangs in the Colorado State Capital. While Trump blamed Colorado Governor Jared Polis for the portrait’s allegedly distorted appearance, it was actually commissioned by Colorado Republicans through a GoFundMe campaign. Colbert shared a clip of the campaign, highlighting the grassroots efforts to support the former president.
Shifting his attention to international affairs, Colbert mentioned Trump’s ongoing frustration with Canada, which he tries to bring into the fold as the 51st state. Secretary of Homeland Security and “Real Housewife of Guantanamo Bay” Christy Noem recently visited the Haskell-free Library and Opera House, which straddles the border between Quebec and Vermont. Noem’s visit led to a temporary ban on Canadians accessing the library without going through an official border crossing, citing concerns about drug trafficking and smuggling.
Lastly, Colbert addressed Trump’s persistent desire to acquire Greenland, which the president considers crucial for national and international security. To pursue this endeavor further, Trump plans to send Second Lady Usha Vance to visit the island.
Overall, Colbert’s return to the late-night talk show stage provided an entertaining and satirical take on the latest developments in politics and pop culture. As always, his witty remarks and humorous observations kept the audience laughing throughout the night.
