Stephen Colbert’s recent monologue on The Late Show has sparked controversy by openly pleading with a supposed “Deep State” to intervene against President Donald Trump’s proposed tariff policies. This satirical performance has reignited debates about the existence of shadowy government forces and their purported influence over American politics. Is Colbert’s comedy reinforcing political division rather than providing genuine critique?
Colbert’s Controversial Deep State Commentary
Late Show host Stephen Colbert recently made waves with his monologue criticizing President Donald Trump’s announcement of reciprocal tariffs. The comedian mockingly suggested that the absence of intervention against Trump is evidence that the “Deep State” doesn’t exist.
“Not one, one, one, one bit of good news is coming out of all this — it’s, it’s all pretty solid proof that there is no Deep State. Cuz if there was, they would have stopped this,” Colbert stated during his monologue. His comments were made in response to Trump’s tariff proposal that would require nations to pay higher prices to import goods to the United States or negotiate alternative agreements.
WATCH😳: Stephen Colbert kicked off his Late Show monologue on Thursday by staring into the camera and pleading with “the cabal of financial and governmental elites who pull all the strings behind the scenes” to intervene as President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs.… pic.twitter.com/sy3uGuscEi
— Melissa Hallman (@dotconnectinga) April 5, 2025
Satirical Plea to Shadowy Elites
Taking his satire further, Colbert directly addressed the theoretical secret power brokers in a tongue-in-cheek appeal. “Okay. But if they do exist, I just want to say to the cabal of financial and governmental elites who pull all the strings behind the scenes, Maybe put a pause on your 5G chip, JFK Jr., adrenochrome, chemtrail orgy, and jump in here,” he quipped.
The comedian’s references to popular conspiracy theories, including 5G chips, JFK Jr.’s supposed return, adrenochrome harvesting, and chemtrails, served to mock fringe beliefs while simultaneously pretending to call for intervention. This approach represents Colbert’s signature style of using comedy to deliver pointed political commentary about current events.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 2, 2025
Tariffs at the Center of Controversy
The comedic segment was triggered by Trump’s announcement about imposing reciprocal tariffs on imports. These tariffs would significantly increase costs for nations sending goods to the United States unless they negotiate alternative arrangements.
Colbert’s comments reflect ongoing criticism of Trump’s economic policies from left-leaning commentators. The Late Show host has consistently used his platform to critique Trump’s actions across multiple fronts, including election claims, policy decisions, and legal challenges.
Critics of Colbert’s approach argue that such monologues blur the line between entertainment and political advocacy. Supporters maintain that satirical commentary serves an important role in democratic discourse by highlighting perceived inconsistencies in policy positions through humor.
The incident underscores the continuing polarization in American media, where comedy programs increasingly function as vehicles for political messaging. The intersection of entertainment and political commentary will likely remain a significant feature of America’s media landscape.