Stephen Colbert has spent years skewering Donald Trump with sharp satire, but that doesn’t mean he has any interest in replacing him in the Oval Office.
During a recent appearance on Slate’s Political Gabfest in December, the longtime late-night host was asked whether he would consider a presidential run in 2028. Colbert’s answer was immediate and unequivocal: he has no intention of running for president. In his words, it’s simply not a role he believes he should pursue.
Colbert explained that while he understands why some people might float the idea, public office isn’t something he’s chasing. He framed the question in terms of service, noting that any future role if there ever were one would require serious reflection with his family and faith community once his tenure on The Late Show eventually ends. For now, his contribution to public life remains firmly rooted in comedy, commentary, and cultural critique.
The question comes at a tense moment in Colbert’s relationship with Trump and conservative media politics more broadly. Over the past year, Colbert has been outspoken about what he sees as inappropriate entanglements between corporate media and political power. In July, he sharply criticized Paramount’s reported $16 million settlement tied to a lawsuit Trump filed over the editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris during the 2024 election cycle. Colbert characterized the deal as deeply troubling, arguing that financial settlements involving sitting political figures raise serious ethical concerns.
Not long after those comments, CBS announced that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would be ending in 2026, marking the conclusion of a franchise that Colbert has led since 2015. The network described him as an “irreplaceable” host and confirmed the show would retire with him, rather than be recast.
Trump, for his part, responded on Truth Social by denying sole responsibility for the show’s cancellation while still taking aim at Colbert, a move that only fueled further speculation about political pressure behind the scenes.
Colbert’s legacy in late-night television is already secure. Before taking over from David Letterman, he became famous for The Colbert Report, where he brilliantly parodied right-wing punditry, and earlier as a correspondent on The Daily Show. While he may never seek elected office, Colbert’s influence on political discourse—especially in an era shaped by Trumpism—has been undeniable.
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