Stephen Colbert Applauds Trump’s ‘Concise, Intelligent’ National Address – Then Drops the Act

Stephen Colbert left his audience in a stunned silence on The Late Show, Wednesday as he praised President Donald Trump’s televised national address – before smirkingly calling out “April Fools’!”

The comedian’s remarks followed Trump’s first national address since the beginning of conflict with Iran, delivered live from the White House and lasting around 19 minutes.

In the speech, the president said “core strategic objectives are nearing completion” and warned the US would “hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks,” adding: “We are going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong.”

Opening the show with his usual monologue, Colbert began, “Folks, it was a big night on all the broadcast networks. Donald Trump at 9 o’clock gave a national prime time address. It was concise, intelligent, and brought the nation together with shared purpose.”

The audience laughed awkwardly before the host broke character, declaring, “April Fools!”

Colbert told viewers he had not watched the speech, noting that he was filming before it aired.

He added a Passover-themed jab, saying the address fell on the first night of the holiday and recommending “having had four glasses of wine.” He also quipped that he “put lamb’s blood on my TV, so the speech would pass me by.”

The host has long been a vocal critic of Trump, with a feud between the two stretching back years and public clashes that culminated after CBS announced last July that The Late Show would end following its current season in May.

Watch above via CBS.

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