Stephen Colbert on why he’s calm before the election

Stephen Colbert explained his mindset heading into today’s presidential election

Stephen Colbert calls the 2020 presidential election the most consequential one of his lifetime. But even with those stakes, the Late Show host says he’s calm, cool, and collected ahead of Nov. 3.

It may be difficult for some viewers to believe that given how passionate Colbert has been over the past four years. While approaching everything through the lens of comedy, his Late Show has also tried to educate, engage, and motivate viewers through its commentary.

Four years ago, Colbert learned a valuable lesson when the election of Donald Trump took him by surprise. It’s something he and his team will avoid repeating tonight as he goes live on Showtime for Stephen Colbert’s Election Night 2020: Democracy’s Last Stand: Building Back America Great Again Better 2020.

Last night on The Late Show, Colbert explained why he’s feeling a sense of calm on the eve of the election. His peaceful state of mind came even as President Trump and some of his supporters attempted to promote chaos.

According to Colbert, most people made up their minds about the 2020 election back in 2017. It was clear early on that President Trump was going to be exactly who he was on the campaign trail and that uniting his supporters and critics was not going to happen. Colbert points to President Trump’s poor approval ratings and holds out hope for the “gravitational forces of democracy.”

Colbert is also hoping that the institutions of the American government can hold together for at least one more election. His monologue argues that President Trump has exposed flaws in the system that need to be fixed. But in the meantime, Colbert is staying optimistic that they can come through for him one more time.

Stephen Colbert is not holding out hope for a gracious Donald Trump in the case of defeat

If Colbert gets his wish and former Vice President Joe Biden wins the election, the next question will be how President Donald Trump reacts. Some, like Bill Maher, have argued that President Trump won’t leave the White House. Others are concerned about a long court battle as the Trump administration challenges the validity of the results.

It was reported that President Trump was considering declaring a premature victory if he gets an early lead and all mail-in ballots have yet to be counted. The president has since denied the report but did dismiss the idea of counting ballots after Nov. 3.

In his response, Colbert reminds the president of how democracy works. The Late Show host also points out that the final results of a presidential election have never been completed on Nov. 3. And after President Trump suggested a delayed result would cause chaos and bedlam in the country, Colbert shows how the president’s own supporters got a head start on that.

For the last monologue before the election, Stephen Colbert didn’t get worked up or deliver an impassioned condemnation of the current administration. He’s been doing that for four years and it all led up to a sense of calm heading into the election. But if you can’t quite get to that same level of serenity, The Late Show suggests having a drink or two.

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