Stephen Colbert commenced his live episode of The Late Show with a parody from the musical "Wicked." The broadcast aired following President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, which extended beyond an hour and 45 minutes, causing The Late Show to begin approximately 30 minutes later than scheduled.
Colbert's Initial Reaction to the SOTU
Colbert described the presidential speech as "incredibly long," adding a humorous remark about Senator Jon Ossoff.
He informed the audience that he had consumed an edible before the speech, citing Michelle Obama's advice.
Commentary on the State of the Union's Theme and Content
Colbert commented on the State of the Union's official theme, "American at 250: strong, prosperous and respected." He suggested that the explicit declaration of these qualities might imply their absence.
Throughout the segment, Colbert highlighted President Trump's job approval rate of 36%. He also referenced Trump's discussion of a "Trump Account for Kids" (which Trump stated he did not name), the removal of 2.4 million individuals from food stamps, and Trump's expressed wish to receive the Congressional Medal of Freedom.
Colbert characterized Trump's speech as "dark" and "filled with divisive lies." He stated his opinion that it was unlikely to garner support from voters dissatisfied with the "chaos and dysfunction of the second administration."
Show Guest Appearance
Former CBS News anchor John Dickerson appeared as a guest later in the show.