The Late Show with Stephen Colbert had another year leading the way in late-night TV's coverage of Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, and all the twists and turns of the 2024 presidential election. The show's most-watched clip is a reminder of the optimism that once filled Stephen Colbert's theater.
Stephen Colbert's monologues attract millions of viewers every night. Fans turn to the Late Show host immediately after the day's news, especially eager to hear his take on Donald Trump. So it's no surprise that Colbert's most-watched clip of 2024 is all about Trump.
The moment came on September 11. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert went live after the first and only debate between Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. To say that Colbert (and his studio audience) was in a good mood would be an understatement.
Colbert started the show by calling out Trump's performance and accusing the former president of lying about nearly everything. The late-night host was also very complimentary of Harris' performance and her ability to focus while attacking her opponent.
The highlight came near the end of Colbert's 14-minute monologue. He played the now-famous clip of Harris appearing to stop herself from calling Trump an expletive. "I don't think 'former president' was the F-word she was looking for," Colbert said, following a thunderous applause from his studio audience.
Stephen Colbert's most-watched clip of 2024 was filled with optimism that eventually fell short
Stephen Colbert's live monologue following the debate has earned over 5 million views on YouTube. It was the most optimistic Colbert had sounded all election cycle, but things didn't exactly turn out the way he hoped.
Colbert went so far as to call Kamala Harris' performance the best he'd ever seen. Clearly, the comedian was impressed and believed the momentum from that night would carry Harris to the White House. Even the next day Colbert continued to celebrate what Harris did, calling it a "smackdown."
Of course, we all know how the election actually turned out. Kamala Harris could not defeat Donald Trump, no matter how well she debated or how good the vibes were during the debate. The optimism Colbert expressed in September was gone by November.
We'll find out what kind of mood Stephen Colbert is in come 2025 when Donald Trump officially takes office. The Late Show returns with new episodes in January.