"Finally, after four years, Americans can exhale," said an ecstatic Stephen Colbert on Monday. "Unless you're near other people, then please don't because of the pandemic."
Colbert broke out the champagne to celebrate President-elect Joe Biden's victory over the weekend, denying "president-reject" Donald Trump a second term and prompting people to literally dance in the streets. While Colbert acknowledged America's long national nightmare still isn't over, with the country deep in a Trump-dug economic, diplomatic, and public health pit, it's at least different now, with real hope for positive change.
"So we can't be complacent, we have to put our heads down and keep doing the work — starting tomorrow," said Colbert, whipping out a T-shirt cannon and firing it to "Celebration" by Kool & the Gang.
"It feels like America is...what's the word? Great again."
It wasn't just the ousting of Trump that had Colbert so excited, either. The Late Show host also rejoiced in the possibility that people might be kinder without Trump's voice in their ear — including Colbert himself.
"One of the things I've found about this job is that I tend to reflect back the national tone, and that tone comes from the top," said Colbert, speaking slightly more seriously as he reflected on Trump's impact. "The president's only emotions are 'angry', 'look at me', and 'I'm angry you're not looking at me.' And because he was the only thing we were focused on for the last four years — and this is entirely my responsibility — I've done harsher jokes than I've ever done in my entire life.
"This is why they say don't wrestle with a pig, because you'll both get filthy and the pig likes it. And also your pig impression really hasn't gotten any better in the last four years."
Topics Stephen Colbert Politics
