Stephen Colbert has explained remarks in which he stated that, if given the opportunity to inhabit another individual’s body for a single day, he would choose President Donald Trump, notwithstanding their well-documented public disagreements.
The 61-year-old television host addressed the subject during an appearance on Slate’s Political Gabfest on December 18, where he was asked by CBS anchor John Dickerson whom he would select if he could assume another person’s body for a 24-hour period. Colbert responded that he would choose the sitting president.
When asked to elaborate on his reasoning, Colbert stated that, were he able to do so, he would immediately resign from the presidency, explaining that he envisioned a voluntary departure without controversy or scandal. He characterized the hypothetical resignation as a self-styled exit “on top,” framed as a definitive conclusion to the presidency.
Colbert further raised a humorous hypothetical concerning whether President Trump would simultaneously occupy his body during the same period, remarking that, if so, he would advise his wife to temporarily leave their home.
During the same discussion, Colbert addressed speculation regarding a potential presidential run in 2028, stating unequivocally that he should not seek public office. While acknowledging that some may find the idea appealing, he noted that any such consideration would require consultation with his family and spiritual advisers following the conclusion of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which is scheduled to end in May 2026.
Colbert’s remarks preceded recent public criticism directed at him by President Trump, who posted disparaging comments on Truth Social following the rebroadcast of a Late Show monologue critical of Trump’s hosting of the Kennedy Center Honors. In those posts, the president questioned Colbert’s professional merit and urged CBS to terminate the program.
Earlier in the year, Colbert also publicly criticized Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, after it agreed to a $16 million settlement resolving litigation initiated by President Trump over a 60 Minutes interview. During a broadcast of The Late Show, Colbert characterized the settlement as improper, remarks made shortly before Paramount announced the program’s cancellation, citing financial losses reportedly totaling approximately $40 million annually.
Despite the pending conclusion of the series, Colbert’s program received the Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Series in September. Colbert has since stated that, while the show’s end is inevitable, he remains committed to continuing creative work with his longtime colleagues and exploring future collaborative projects.#newsafro_
