On Tuesday’s (January 14) episode of The Late Present, Stephen Colbert seemed forward to Donald Trump‘s inauguration and his incoming administration, together with protection secretary nominee Pete Hegseth.
Addressing Trump’s nomination of former Fox Information host Hegseth, Colbert advised viewers, “You may keep in mind Hegseth from his quite skinny file of {qualifications} to run essentially the most highly effective army and single largest workforce on the planet…”
“There’s his stint as co-host of Fox and Pals Weekends,” he continued. “And the allegations of extreme ingesting after work and at work, in any other case often known as ‘all the time.’”
Colbert then touched on Hegseth’s affirmation listening to, which he described as “Hegseth largely bobbing and weaving to keep away from admitting issues we already learn about him,” reminiscent of his belittling statements on feminine service members and “horrific allegations of sexual assault.”
The late-night host introduced up how Hegseth’s personal mom wrote a letter criticizing her son. Within the letter, she wrote, “I’ve no respect for a person who belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps round and makes use of ladies for his personal energy and ego. You might be that man.”
“That’s the most devastating burn,” Colbert responded. “‘Oh, you suppose you’ll be able to run the army? That’s not what your mother mentioned final night time… Yeah, significantly, she dropped off this letter, it’s fairly upsetting.’”
The comic additionally aired a clip of Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) defending Hegseth through the listening to, through which he flubbed a line, saying “give me a joke” as a substitute of “give me a break.”
In response, Colbert had a joke lined up for Mullin, saying, “A drunk, a dishonest husband, and an accused sexual predator stroll right into a bar. And the bartender says, ‘Desk for one, Mr. Hegseth?’”
Elsewhere in his monologue, Colbert seemed forward to President-elect Trump’s inauguration on January 20. “It looks like we’re all James Bond strapped to the desk, and the laser is slowly inching towards our crotch, and it’s like, ‘sufficient about your evil plot to beat Greenland. Simply zap America’s junk off already,’” he quipped.
He additionally shared the information that the Village Folks will likely be performing on the inauguration, noting, “It is a massive change of coronary heart for the Village Folks, provided that in 2020 they demanded Trump cease utilizing their music.”
“Evidently, the band is attempting to go in a brand new course, and that course is towards cash,” Colbert added. “As a result of a number of weeks in the past… lead singer Victor Willis posted that he’ll sue each information group that falsely refers to YMCA as a homosexual anthem.”
“This should cease, as a result of it’s damaging to the music,” Willis wrote in a current Fb submit.
Colbert mocked Willis’ assertion, jokingly including, “Sure, for as soon as and for all, women and gents, YMCA is just not homosexual. The place did that even come from? It’s off the famously straight, precise Village Folks album Cruisin’, full of hetero hits like “Sizzling Cop,” “My Roommate” and easily, “I’m a Cruiser.”
You may watch Colbert’s full opening monologue within the video above.
The Late Present With Stephen Colbert, Weeknights, 11:35/10:35 c, CBS