Stephen Colbert used CBS’s The Late Show platform to express grief and disbelief during an emotional interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris, following her defeat in the 2024 presidential election. Colbert lamented Harris’s failure to stop President Donald Trump’s return to office and accused Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court of giving Trump “free reign.”
In a pointed moment, Colbert asked Harris if, during the certification of the 2024 election results, she considered stopping the process. “Anybody want to storm the Capitol? Anybody?” Colbert joked, referencing the January 6 events. Harris did not directly address the question.
Colbert declared that the national mood is “grim,” citing what he called “abuses,” “corruption,” and “violence against neighbors.” He further alleged that under Trump’s leadership, institutions are capitulating, leading to the erosion of democracy. “There was actually a lot of hope associated with your campaign,” he told Harris, calling Trump an “absolute barbarian.”
Despite Colbert’s claims, President Trump won the popular vote and Electoral College in 2024, sweeping every key swing state and securing a decisive mandate. Recent polls show Americans are increasingly optimistic under Trump’s leadership, with confidence in the economy and national direction on the rise.
Harris claimed she had predicted what would happen under Trump’s second term, accusing him of cutting entitlement programs, ignoring court orders, and alienating allies. “You warned everyone about the future under our present president,” Colbert said. Harris responded, “You are correct that I did predict a lot of it,” adding that what she didn’t foresee was “capitulation” from institutions and leaders.
Harris repeated her belief that she expected more resistance from supposed “guardians of our system.” Meanwhile, Democratic leadership continues to struggle with public approval, and their policies remain out of step with a majority of voters.
Colbert’s interview further solidified The Late Show’s role as a partisan platform. Since 2022, the show has hosted 176 left-leaning guests and only one Republican. With cancellation rumors swirling, critics point to its shift from comedy to ideological monologue as the reason for declining viewership.
