Stephen Colbert pumps the brakes on Trump’s pandemic victory parade

Stephen Colbert reacted to the White House claiming that the Trump administration has ended the COVID-19 pandemic

President Donald Trump is making his final push to make up ground against former Vice President Joe Biden and secure his reelection. This includes some questionable campaign strategies that Stephen Colbert considers par for the course for the Republican nominee.

In recent weeks, Colbert has joined other late night television hosts in suggesting desperation has set in for President Trump and his campaign. Vice President Biden leads in almost every national poll and research suggests that several key demographics are against four more years of Donald Trump.

Still, President Trump is out on the road. His rallies provide the opportunity to bash Vice President Biden, appeal to voters, and tout his own accomplishments. Those last two goals have caught Stephen Colbert’s attention.

Last night on The Late Show, Colbert’s monologue examined how the Trump campaign is trying to win back voters. Then Colbert put the brakes on Team Trump’s victory party for apparently ending the pandemic:

First, Stephen Colbert questions if winning back suburban women by telling them their husbands will get their jobs back is the best way for President Trump to get their vote. According to Colbert, the president’s old-fashioned viewpoint is just more proof that Vice President Biden will likely pick up those votes.

Then Colbert has some fun with a report revealing that the Trump campaign is buying ad space during The Late Show. President Trump has made it clear that he watches Colbert so maybe he knows how valuable the airtime can be.

Stephen Colbert calls the White House’s pandemic report madness

But what really gets Colbert worked up is the White House press release listing “ending the pandemic” as one of the administration’s accomplishments. It was just before this that Colbert highlighted the staggering number of COVID-19 cases in places like Texas.

Colbert is reminded of President George W. Bush’s infamous “Mission Accomplished” speech in 2003 suggesting that the Iraq War was a success and major combat operations were over. For Colbert, claiming victory over the pandemic right now is just as absurd.

Colbert’s response connects to an ongoing theme on The Late Show centered on President Trump’s relationship with reality. The comedian has warned his audience that the president wants Americans to “ignore reality” in favor of the one created by President Trump and the White House.

Like he has time and time again, Colbert is able to address this concern with the right level of sincerity and humor. The White House’s pandemic victory claim is easier to dismiss because of how tangible the evidence is right now. That makes it a little easier for Colbert to reintroduce President Trump’s steroid-induced goldfish hallucination telling him he made America is great again.

What did you think of Stephen Colbert’s monologue? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.