Click on a word or part of a phrase to learn more.

Scroll through the captions and click to skip to a caption.

Play video to start
Welcome one and all to the Late Show.
Welcome one and all to the Late Show
I'm your host Steven Colbert. Ladies and
I'm your host Steven Colbert Ladies and
[cheering] gentlemen, [music]
cheering gentlemen music
that's the spirit, right? That's the
that's the spirit right That's the
holiday spirit. Folks, you sound in a
holiday spirit Folks you sound in a
pretty good mood. I hope you all had a
pretty good mood I hope you all had a
fun weekend, but there is no way you had
fun weekend but there is no way you had
more fun than Donald Trump because he is
more fun than Donald Trump because he is
that girl from your office who
that girl from your office who
celebrates her birthday month. And
celebrates her birthday month And
uh and it's going to be four years long.
uh and it's going to be four years long
Now, for his first present, uh, last
Now for his first present uh last
night he hosted the Kennedy Center
night he hosted the Kennedy Center
Honors, and I got to say, I didn't know
Honors and I got to say I didn't know
if he was there, but Will Smith had the
if he was there but Will Smith had the
opportunity to do the funniest thing
opportunity to do the funniest thing
ever.
ever
This year's uh, Kennedy Center honor
This year's uh Kennedy Center honor
ceremony is the very first since Trump
ceremony is the very first since Trump
installed himself as chair of the
installed himself as chair of the
Kennedy Center's board. I
Kennedy Center's board I
Yeah, I kind of agree. It seems like the
Yeah I kind of agree It seems like the
commander-in-chief shouldn't have enough
commander-in-chief shouldn't have enough
time to run a theater. Mr. President,
time to run a theater Mr President
Mr. President, Russia has just launched
Mr President Russia has just launched
another round of missiles. But first,
another round of missiles But first
dress rehearsal for Oklahoma is
dress rehearsal for Oklahoma is
underway,
underway
and the blocking is uninspired.
and the blocking is uninspired
[laughter]
laughter
Before last night's ceremony, Trump
Before last night's ceremony Trump
walked the red carpet and talked about
walked the red carpet and talked about
his love of the arts.
his love of the arts
>> You mentioned some of your favorite
>> You mentioned some of your favorite
songs. In your opinion, what makes a
songs In your opinion what makes a
song great?
song great
>> Well, it's something that has to be soft
>> Well it's something that has to be soft
and soothing to your ear. I like some
and soothing to your ear I like some
songs that other people don't like. You
songs that other people don't like You
know, it's why they have, you ever hear
know it's why they have you ever hear
the expression, that's why they have
the expression that's why they have
menus in restaurants. We're all
menus in restaurants We're all
different.
different
The world's stupidest question answered
The world's stupidest question answered
by the world's hungriest man.
by the world's hungriest man
What's my favorite thing about music?
What's my favorite thing about music
Probably restaurant. I love I love I
Probably restaurant I love I love I
love when a song has one of those big
love when a song has one of those big
sizzling appetizer platters for the
sizzling appetizer platters for the
whole table to share. Don't touch the
whole table to share Don't touch the
chorus. It's very hot. Can we
chorus It's very hot Can we
>> Can we get some more chips? We still
>> Can we get some more chips We still
have some more song left. [laughter]
have some more song left laughter
We don't
We don't
at this point. I don't know how much
at this point I don't know how much
effort I'm putting into the impression
effort I'm putting into the impression
anymore.
anymore
And I don't care now. We don't have
And I don't care now We don't have
[cheering]
cheering
[music]
music
fire me. [applause]
fire me applause
You always care. That's what I love
You always care That's what I love
about you. We don't have footage from
about you We don't have footage from
the ceremony yet because it won't
the ceremony yet because it won't
actually uh air until later this month,
actually uh air until later this month
but we do have this is an actual
but we do have this is an actual
transcript of some of Trump's actual
transcript of some of Trump's actual
opening monologue to the Kennedy Center
opening monologue to the Kennedy Center
audience. If there was one thread that
audience If there was one thread that
connects all of these amazing artists
connects all of these amazing artists
together, it's the word persistence. I
together it's the word persistence I
can say that with a lot of members of
can say that with a lot of members of
our audience. I know so many of you and
our audience I know so many of you and
you are persistent. Many of you are
you are persistent Many of you are
miserable, horrible people. But you are
miserable horrible people But you are
persistent. You never give up. Sometimes
persistent You never give up Sometimes
I wish you'd give up, but you don't.
I wish you'd give up but you don't
[cheering]
cheering
That man, that is a man who knows how to
That man that is a man who knows how to
please a crowd.
please a crowd
Am I right? The most miserable, horrible
Am I right The most miserable horrible
audience in the world.
audience in the world
[cheering]
cheering
>> [applause]
>> applause
>> On Saturday, Trump talked about some of
>> On Saturday Trump talked about some of
the other people who have hosted the
the other people who have hosted the
Kennedy Center honors before him in the
Kennedy Center honors before him in the
past, and he pre-complained about how
past and he pre-complained about how
people will judge his hosting. I'm sure
people will judge his hosting I'm sure
they'll give me great reviews, right?
they'll give me great reviews right
You know, they'll say, "He was horrible.
You know they'll say He was horrible
He was terrible. It was a horrible
He was terrible It was a horrible
situation." No, we'll do fine. I've
situation No we'll do fine I've
watched some of the people that host.
watched some of the people that host
Jimmy Kimmel was horrible. Some of these
Jimmy Kimmel was horrible Some of these
people. If I can't beat out Jimmy Kimmel
people If I can't beat out Jimmy Kimmel
in terms of talent, then I don't think I
in terms of talent then I don't think I
should be president.
should be president
>> You can't and you shouldn't.
>> You can't and you shouldn't
Also, [cheering]
Also cheering
[applause]
applause
Just a quick brain check for uh Grandpa
Just a quick brain check for uh Grandpa
Podenkull.
Podenkull
Uh, I called him and Jimmy Kimmel has
Uh I called him and Jimmy Kimmel has
never hosted the Kennedy Center Honors.
never hosted the Kennedy Center Honors
[cheering]
cheering
But here's the thing. I did the three
But here's the thing I did the three
years leading up to Trump becoming
years leading up to Trump becoming
president.
president
[cheering] Speaking of awards, Trump got
cheering Speaking of awards Trump got
a fake one on Friday because after years
a fake one on Friday because after years
of campaigning unsuccessfully for the
of campaigning unsuccessfully for the
Nobel Peace Prize, Trump won the
Nobel Peace Prize Trump won the
inaugural FIFA Peace Prize.
inaugural FIFA Peace Prize
Might seem like an odd combination, but
Might seem like an odd combination but
I think it's appropriate because when
I think it's appropriate because when
you think peaceful, you think soccer
you think peaceful you think soccer
fans.
fans
Later that same day, Trump also received
Later that same day Trump also received
the Hooters National Book Award.
the Hooters National Book Award
It was
It was
[applause and cheering]
applause and cheering
It was the best of times. It
It was the best of times It
It was the worst of boos. [laughter]
It was the worst of boos laughter
Of course, uh the FIFA Peace Prize is no
Of course uh the FIFA Peace Prize is no
Nobel. It's like for Christmas if you
Nobel It's like for Christmas if you
ask your mom for a Super Nintendo and
ask your mom for a Super Nintendo and
she gets you something called Super
she gets you something called Super
Retendo.
Retendo
It comes with Super Mario Brothers and
It comes with Super Mario Brothers and
Legend of Zelda.
Legend of Zelda
This peace prize was yanked straight
This peace prize was yanked straight
from the chest of FIFA president and
from the chest of FIFA president and
Mr. Clean's pervert brother
Mr Clean's pervert brother
Gianni Infantino. You cannot call me a
Gianni Infantino You cannot call me a
Mr. Dirty. Okay.
Mr Dirty Okay
[cheering] as [applause]
cheering as applause
let's get started. There we go. As
let's get started There we go As
president of FIFA, Infantino is the
president of FIFA Infantino is the
world's top authority in corruption and
world's top authority in corruption and
he spent the last year sucking up to
he spent the last year sucking up to
Trump. So much so that Trump has started
Trump So much so that Trump has started
recently calling him 'my boy.'
recently calling him 'my boy'
I thought I was your boy, Dad.
I thought I was your boy Dad
[cheering]
cheering
[applause]
applause
Dad, I played soccer, too. Dad, I'm just
Dad I played soccer too Dad I'm just
I'm still waiting for you to pick me up.
I'm still waiting for you to pick me up
Dad.
Dad
[laughter]
laughter
Dad, it's raining.
Dad it's raining
Dad, [cheering and applause]
Dad cheering and applause
Dad,
Dad
[applause]
applause
don't forget the orange slices. That
don't forget the orange slices That
[laughter]
laughter
Infantino pulled out all the stops for
Infantino pulled out all the stops for
Trump's Big Boy Trophy Party, including
Trump's Big Boy Trophy Party including
a performance by What's Left of the
a performance by What's Left of the
Village People.
Village People
[laughter]
laughter
>> Where are the other half of the lyrics?
>> Where are the other half of the lyrics
It reminds me of that Beatles song.
It reminds me of that Beatles song
Hey,
Hey
[laughter]
laughter
when it was time for the award, here's
when it was time for the award here's
what they gave Trump. Wow.
what they gave Trump Wow
It looks like the poster for a movie
It looks like the poster for a movie
called Zombie Planet 3,
called Zombie Planet 3
exclusively on a service called Plumbo
exclusively on a service called Plumbo
with Ads.
with Ads
Here is the moment Infantino presented
Here is the moment Infantino presented
the award to Trump.
the award to Trump
>> Mr. President, this is your
>> Mr President this is your
prize. This is your peace prize. There
prize This is your peace prize There
is also a beautiful medal for you that
is also a beautiful medal for you that
you can wear everywhere you want to go.
you can wear everywhere you want to go
[laughter]
laughter
Call me a boomer, but these
Call me a boomer but these
participation trophies have gone too
participation trophies have gone too
far.
far
There is also, [applause] Mr. President,
There is also applause Mr President
[cheering]
cheering
here is your trophy. There is also a
here is your trophy There is also a
medallion. There is also a FIFA peace
medallion There is also a FIFA peace
ribbon, a macaroni necklace, uh, and a
ribbon a macaroni necklace uh and a
lapel sticker that says, "Ask me about
lapel sticker that says Ask me about
my peace prize."
my peace prize
It, Mr. President, is scratch and sniff.
It Mr President is scratch and sniff
It smells like a chicken. Now good.
It smells like a chicken Now good
Is he a robber?
Is he a robber
A daring photographer captured the
A daring photographer captured the
moment Trump got the medal. Dear
moment Trump got the medal Dear
dear, dear God, he looks like a goblin
dear dear God he looks like a goblin
asking if it's okay to eat a third baby.
asking if it's okay to eat a third baby
Mh. [cheering]
Mh cheering
[applause]
applause
What's this? What? What? What? What is
What's this What What What What is
this? Oh my gosh. It's the first annual
this Oh my gosh It's the first annual
Steven Colbert. [cheering]
Steven Colbert cheering
Oh my god. I didn't I What? I didn't
Oh my god I didn't I What I didn't
even know. This is the first annual
even know This is the first annual
Steven Colbert joke prize and the winner
Steven Colbert joke prize and the winner
is Steven Colbear
is Steven Colbear
[cheering]
cheering
there. I didn't know. I did not. How
there I didn't know I did not How
could I? [cheering] I didn't.
could I cheering I didn't
Oh,
Oh
thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank
thank you Thank you Thank you Thank
you.
you
[applause]
applause
Now, [cheering]
Now cheering
This could have gone to any Steven
This could have gone to any Steven
Colbert. Does it come with a medallion?
Colbert Does it come with a medallion
>> It's all right.
>> It's all right
Now, you
Now you
After rehearsal, after rehearsal today,
After rehearsal after rehearsal today
we thought, "Oh, I should win my own
we thought Oh I should win my own
award." And then we said, "See if they
award And then we said See if they
could do props, they can make an award
could do props they can make an award
for us." And they said, "What about
for us And they said What about
this?"
this
And I said, "Did you just make that?"
And I said Did you just make that
And they said, "No, we made it a long
And they said No we made it a long
time ago in case you ever ever needed to
time ago in case you ever ever needed to
give yourself an award.
give yourself an award
[applause]
applause
[music]
music
That's professionalism."
That's professionalism
[applause]
applause
After all the, uh, the peace prize
After all the uh the peace prize
given was over, Trump spoke about the
given was over Trump spoke about the
importance of soccer. When you look at
importance of soccer When you look at
what has happened to football in the
what has happened to football in the
United States, it's again soccer in the
United States it's again soccer in the
United States. We seem to never call it
United States We seem to never call it
that because we have a little bit of a
that because we have a little bit of a
conflict with another thing that's
conflict with another thing that's
called football. But when you think
called football But when you think
about it, shouldn't it really be called?
about it shouldn't it really be called
I mean, this is football. There's no
I mean this is football There's no
question about it. We have to come up with
question about it We have to come up with
another name for that.
another name for that
>> Yeah. It really doesn't make sense
>> Yeah It really doesn't make sense
when you think about it.
when you think about it
>> It doesn't need to make sense. This is
>> It doesn't need to make sense This is
America. [cheering]
America cheering
It's the land of the free, home of the
It's the land of the free home of the
brave, not the land of the sensible. How
brave not the land of the sensible How
dare you call soccer football? It's like
dare you call soccer football It's like
he's daring MAGA to break up with him.
he's daring MAGA to break up with him
Okay, I'm cancelling football. Are they
Okay I'm cancelling football Are they
Are they still supporting me? Wow. Okay,
Are they still supporting me Wow Okay
we're going, we're going metric system.
we're going we're going metric system
Anything?
Anything
[cheering]
cheering
Really? Jesus was black. Okay. Is this
Really Jesus was black Okay Is this
thing on? Is this hello.
thing on Is this hello
[cheering]
cheering
This, hold on. [applause]
This hold on applause
This
This
This smells like a nugget.
This smells like a nugget
We got a great show for you tonight. My
We got a great show for you tonight My
guests are Weaver and Mandy. When we
guests are Weaver and Mandy When we
come back, meanwhile, join us, won't
come back meanwhile join us won't
you? [music]
you music
Heat.
Heat
[music]
music
Heat. [music]
Heat music
>> [cheering]
>> cheering
- Pause

You might also like these videos

If you enjoy using our custom video player, why not join thousands of subscribers who have signed up to our free weekly lessons?

By using this website you consent to our cookie policy and website terms and conditions.