According to Mashable, on a recent episode of his show, Stephen Colbert reacted to former President Donald Trump’s comments about U.S. involvement in Venezuela. Colbert sarcastically suggested the motivation came from the impending Epstein files release, pretending to flick through papers before doing a Trump impression saying, “Bomb something! Bomb anything!” He then played footage of Trump speaking about plans to “run” Venezuela, quipping that “America first” must mean alphabetically. Colbert finished the segment on a serious note, directly comparing the rhetoric to the lead-up to the Iraq War over 20 years ago, stating it didn’t work then and he doubts it will work now, hoping Americans don’t fall for it again.
Colbert’s Two-Part Punch
Here’s the thing about Colbert’s approach: it works because he doesn’t just do the joke. He does the joke, and then he does the sober pivot. The initial bit—linking a potential foreign policy escalation to the Epstein files as a chaotic distraction—is pure, classic late-night satire. It’s ridiculous on purpose. But that sets up the real kill shot. When he drops the impression and says, “It didn’t work then, and I doubt it’s gonna work now,” he’s connecting a current news cycle to a deep, generational wound. That’s the part that resonates beyond the laugh. It’s not just comedy; it’s a specific, pointed argument about history repeating itself. And a lot of his audience is old enough to remember exactly what he’s talking about.
The Venezuela Context
So what’s Trump actually talking about? The comments Colbert is reacting to seem to revolve around the long-standing U.S. posture toward the regime of Nicolás Maduro. For years, it’s been a mix of sanctions, recognition of a rival government, and loose talk about “options.” Colbert’s bit cuts through the policy jargon to the core appeal: oil. “Their oil will pay for this war,” he paraphrases. It’s a cynical, simplistic pitch that, as reporting on Venezuela’s ongoing crisis shows, ignores the immense complexity and human cost of the country’s situation. Basically, Colbert is calling out the sales pitch, not debating the geopolitics. He’s saying the packaging looks suspiciously familiar, and we should check the expiration date.
Why This Monologue Landed
This works because it feels like a return to form. The “Late Show” host built his reputation on a character who used satire to dissect political rhetoric, and here he’s doing it without the character. The Trump impression is just the garnish. The main course is that moment of genuine, frustrated commentary. It’s a monologue for people who are exhausted by news cycles that feel like reruns. He’s speaking to a shared memory of a major foreign policy disaster and asking, quietly, if we’re really about to do a sequel. That’s a powerful emotional button to push. And in a fragmented media landscape, a late-night host drawing that direct line might be one of the few places a large audience sees that argument made so succinctly. Makes you think, doesn’t it?
