"If the World Burned for His Benefit"... US Talk Show Host Directly Criticizes Trump

Stephen Colbert Criticizes Trump Ahead of Show's Finale
"Trump Is a Complete Narcissist"

Stephen Colbert, a popular American talk show host who has been known as a "Trump critic," delivered sharp criticism toward U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of his program's final episode.

On the 28th (local time), Colbert, in an interview with The New York Times, stated, "The fact that Trump is a Republican is not the issue," and emphasized, "The problem is that he is a complete narcissist." He criticized President Trump, saying, "He is the kind of person who would not care if the whole world burned as long as it benefited him."

Stephen Colbert. Photo by AP News

He added that he does not take a partisan stance, explaining, "If I were partisan, it would mean I never satirize the Democratic Party, but that's not true. It's simply a matter of how abundant the material is."

Regarding why President Trump finds him, Jimmy Kimmel, and other comedians disagreeable, Colbert said, "Comedians are inherently anti-authoritarian figures." He continued, "Authoritarians will never enjoy being mocked by anyone," and explained, "Perhaps they are angry because we don't live in the world of power that they have created."

Meanwhile, CBS's flagship program "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," which Colbert has hosted, will air its final episode on the 21st of next month. This program, which was previously hosted by David Letterman as a late-night talk show, has been hosted by Colbert since 2015 and has topped viewership ratings, gaining popularity for its political satire.

However, CBS suddenly announced plans to cancel the talk show in May of last year. While CBS cited financial reasons, some have speculated that the decision may have been influenced by President Trump. Colbert also noted, "The network may not be able to turn a profit due to competition with YouTube and streaming services," but added, "Just two years before they talked about cancellation, they were eager to sign me to a long-term contract. So clearly, something has changed."

Regarding his future plans, Colbert revealed, "I am currently writing a screenplay for a 'Lord of the Rings' related film," but also said, "I'm not sure what I'll do next, as this show occupies 95% of my mind." He added, "Right now, I'm pouring all my time into this program, so it's difficult to make any decisions. I've received several offers, but I need time to consider them carefully."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.