Not satisfied with winning the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump has turned attention to pollsters and is seeking retribution. Trump's plan to sue an Iowa pollster raised questions, but Stephen Colbert thinks he has the answer.
Trump announced he's suing pollster Ann Selzer and the Des Moines Regisiter newspaper. Selzer made headlines just prior to the election when her poll suggested that Vice President Kamala Harris was up on Trump in Iowa by a healthy margin.
But according to Trump's lawsuit, Selzer and the newspaper were seeking "accountability for brazen election interference." If it's illegal to get a prediction wrong, then Stephen Colbert suggests Puxsutawney Phil laywer up.
The Late Show host was even more confused by Trump's claim that Selzer's poll was manipulated and "leaked" despite being published in a newspaper. Colbert joked that he also leaks his thoughts and opinions every night on The Late Show.
"This is the question my friends," Colbert continued. "Why is this stupid thing stupidly happening? My guess: because of the stupid, stupid thing ABC did."
Colbert reminded his audience ABC agreed to pay $15 million and issue an apology in a defamation case brought on by Trump. According to the Colbert, other media outlets could be feeling the pressure to play nice with the incoming president.
"If the president thinks he can bully the media into never saying anything bad about him, well ... what else is going on?" Colbert joked. It's also not the first time the late-night TV host has suggested he'll tiptoe around Trump.
It wasn't that long ago that Donald Trump listed Stephen Colbert as an enemy. And with Trump ready to return to the White House, Colbert is acutely aware of his spot on the president-elect's radar.
Previously, Colbert joked that President Joe Biden should issue a pardon to late-night TV hosts covering all "crimes" past, present, and future. Colbert also offered to join Trump's administration, pitching himself a comfy ambassadorship in exchange for never discussing Trump again.
It's unclear how successful Trump's lawsuit against Selzer will be. But if his goal was to send a message, then The Late Show with Stephen Colbert heard it loud and clear. Just don't expect Colbert to actually back down in 2025.