The Department of Justice’s indictment of former FBI director James Comey has sent shockwaves through Washington, and it didn’t take long for late-night TV to weigh in. On The Late Show, Stephen Colbert addressed the news with his trademark blend of outrage and comedy, framing the indictment as part of a broader pattern under President Donald Trump. And along the way, he may have thrown Jimmy Fallon under the bus.
Colbert argued Trump is "destroying" the Justice Department, claiming the president pressured the DOJ into bringing charges against Comey. Colbert drew laughs by turning the focus back on himself, referencing his recent run-in with Trump.
“If Trump can indict a former FBI director, anyone who has ever stood up to Trump has to worry about being thrown in jail,” Colbert said. Then, in a perfectly timed punchline, he added: “And I will fight that with every fiber of my being. Or my name is not Jimmy Fallon.”
The gag worked on multiple levels. One, it showed Colbert’s willingness to insert himself into the political fray, despite Paramount's decision to push him out the door. And by passing the heat onto Fallon, widely regarded as the least politically charged of the late-night hosts, Colbert reminded viewers of how different the late-night landscape has become since 2016. Back then, it was Fallon who had one of the biggest scandals in late-night for his infamous hair interview with Trump.
Colbert’s reaction fits into his larger role as late-night’s most outspoken critic of Trump, while also highlighting how the politics of late-night comedy continue to evolve. As absurd as it may be, Colbert isn't wrong to put himself on the same level as James Comey when it comes to potential targets for President Trump's retaliation. Colbert continuing to go scorched earth on Paramount and the Trump administration on his way out the door at CBS could bring more unwanted attention from the White House.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Fallon has backed Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel in their recent politically-motivated controversies. The Tonight Show host may never go as far as Colbert's expletive-laden response to Trump, but Fallon doesn't appear to be backing down. Even as Trump encourages NBC to fire Fallon, the comedian's monologues continue to mock the president. Now thanks to Colbert, Fallon may be on Trump's radar even more. We'll see if Fallon has some fun reacting to Colbert's joke during his monologue on The Tonight Show.