Stephen Colbert jokes he'd swap bodies with Trump and resign: 'It would be a glorious ending'
Stephen Colbert when asked if he could change bodies with someone for 24 hours: “I would slip inside the skin of our President and I would resign” pic.twitter.com/tKi7r5Ax2d
— Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) December 26, 2025
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Comedian and writer Stephen Colbert delivered pointed remarks about President Donald Trump during a celebration of the 20th anniversary of Slate’s 'Political Gabfest' on Friday, December 26.
Earlier this year, CBS announced it would cancel 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert', citing financial reasons. The decision, made public in July, quickly drew scrutiny because of Colbert’s outspoken criticism of Trump.
Stephen Colbert on switching bodies with Trump
During the discussion, host John Dickerson posed a hypothetical question to Colbert, asking, “Stephen, if you could slip into the body of another person for 24 hours, who would it be?”
Panelist David Plotz followed up by asking whether the person would need to be someone "currently living on Earth."
Dickerson, joined by fellow panelist Emily Bazelon, quickly waved off the restriction, replying, “Uh, no. Let’s just say it could be anyone—anyone, anytime. Let’s open it up.”
Colbert paused briefly before responding, “I mean, it’s such a predictable answer for me, but I would slip inside the skin of our president—and I would resign.”
The remark drew immediate laughter from both the panelists and the audience. Dickerson then said, "So, I've anticipated this."
Colbert continued, "No scandal, no scandal, no confession, no Sturm und Drang, just go, it's been great, I'm a wonderful, I'm the best ever, I'm gonna go out on top, I've done everything, I'm just gonna go, that's it."
He concluded by adding, “It would be a glorious ending. I’d just end it.”
Trump lashes out at Stephen Colbert, calls him a 'pathetic trainwreck'
On Wednesday, Trump suggested CBS should cancel late-night host Colbert’s show immediately, rather than let him remain on air through May 2026 as planned.
“Stephen Colbert is a pathetic trainwreck, with no talent or anything else necessary for show business success,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
He argued that Colbert’s standing had declined following his exit from CBS, saying, “Now, after being terminated by CBS, but left out to dry, he has actually gotten worse, along with his nonexistent ratings."
Stephen Colbert is a pathetic trainwreck, with no talent or anything else necessary for show business success. Now, after being terminated by CBS, but left out to dry, he has actually gotten worse, along with his nonexistent ratings. Stephen is running on hatred and fumes ~ A…
— TrumpReposter (@TrumpReposter) December 24, 2025
He continued, "Stephen is running on hatred and fumes ~ A dead man walking! CBS should, ‘put him to sleep,’ NOW, it is the humanitarian thing to do!”
CBS revealed that Colbert’s show will end after one more season, the same month its parent company finalized a $16 million settlement with Trump.
Trump had sued Paramount, alleging that CBS News' '60 Minutes' program deceptively edited an interview with his 2024 election rival, Kamala Harris, in her favour.
In a separate post, he reiterated threats to revoke the broadcast licenses of networks he considered too critical.
He said, "If Network NEWSCASTS, and their Late Night Shows, are almost 100% Negative to President Donald J. Trump, MAGA, and the Republican Party, shouldn't their very valuable Broadcast Licenses be terminated? I say, YES!"
