Stephen Colbert Calls Out “Shady” Trump-Epstein Connection on The Late Show
New York, NY – August 7, 2025 – Stephen Colbert, host of The Late Show on CBS, used his Wednesday monologue to spotlight what he called an “incredibly shady” development in President Donald Trump’s efforts to distance himself from the late Jeffrey Epstein. Colbert’s biting commentary focused on reports that Trump and his allies are relying on a recent Justice Department interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted associate, to clear his name. The move, Colbert argued, is dubious given Maxwell’s 20-year sentence for sex trafficking and her transfer to a minimum-security facility after the interview, which he described as “shady as a cave.”
Colbert’s segment, delivered with his signature satirical edge, highlighted a series of Trump-Epstein headlines, including Epstein’s brother claiming Jeffrey cut ties with Trump for being “a crook” and photos showing their past association. The host gleefully chanted, “He’s in the file! He’s in the file!” referencing Trump’s inclusion in Epstein-related documents, and mocked the president’s promise of prescription-drug-price cuts as mathematically impossible. The monologue also featured a faux ad for “Don Jr. Coke,” poking fun at Trump’s business ties, and a skit using Three Stooges clips to lampoon Attorney General Pam Bondi’s absence from a sex-trafficking summit due to a “torn cornea.”
This latest critique comes amid heightened scrutiny of Colbert’s show, which CBS announced will end in May 2026, citing financial losses of $40–50 million annually despite its top-rated status. Many, including Colbert, suspect political motives tied to Paramount’s $16 million settlement with Trump over a 60 Minutes lawsuit and its $8 billion merger with Skydance, approved by Trump’s FCC. Posts on X reflect polarized sentiment, with critics like @MegynKellyShow arguing Colbert’s liberal “therapy sessions” alienated viewers, while supporters like @TristanSnell call the cancellation corrupt, linking it to Trump’s influence.
Colbert’s unapologetic jabs, including telling Trump to “go f— yourself” after the cancellation news, have fueled a ratings surge, with 3.3 million viewers tuning in for his July 21 monologue, his highest in over two years. As The Late Show nears its end, Colbert’s defiance underscores his role as a leading satirist, unafraid to challenge powerful figures despite corporate pressures.
For more on Colbert’s commentary, watch clips at CBS.com or YouTube.com.