Stephen Colbert has a very blunt response to Republicans now calling for 'unity'

"There can be no healing until the sickness is identified and removed."
 By 
Sam Haysom
 on 
Stephen Colbert has a very blunt response to Republicans now calling for 'unity'
Watch Next

Stephen Colbert has had many blunt words for Republicans in the days since a pro-Trump mob, some of whom are now being investigated by the FBI for domestic terrorism, attacked the Capitol building — and he isn't done yet.

During his Late Show monologue on Tuesday, the host turned his attention to the latest Republican talking point: calling for "unity" and "healing" in an attempt to justify their arguments not to impeach the president. Unsurprisingly, Colbert was having none of it.

"OK, let's unify in punishing all the insurrectionists and their political leaders who legitimise their homicidal fantasies," he says in the clip above. "There can be no healing until the sickness is identified and removed, and you can do it now! The tumour lost his Twitter feed! 'Cuz unity's great, I'm all for unity, so Republicans — what is your outreach to the other side? You got to ante up. You don't get to stay in the game if you don't toss in a chip of good faith. The other side is going to stop this from happening again by getting rid of the guy who caused it; what are you willing to do to help?"

So far, Colbert argues, Republicans have done nothing.

"They were simply certifying a free and fair election — an election that you knew was free and fair — but you lied about it anyway because you wanted the campaign cash and all those eyeballs, and you were afraid to make your boss and his MAGA monster mad," he says. "Your lies legitimised the fantasies of a violent, anti-democratic mob that nearly got you and your colleagues killed, and did get a policeman murdered.

"Now you want to use your hollow calls for unity to sweep it all under the rug?"

Topics Politics

Mashable Image
Sam Haysom

Sam Haysom is the Deputy UK Editor for Mashable. He covers entertainment and online culture, and writes horror fiction in his spare time.


Latest Videos

Stephen Colbert reacts to the Artemis II moon mission
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage, gesturing.


'The Daily Show' reacts to judge halting Trump's White House ballroom
Desi Lydic presents "The Daily Show" beside an image of Donald Trump.


A24's 'Mother Mary' trailer is worth it for the FKA twigs track
Anne Hathway is dressed in a red pop star outfit with religious overtones in a film still from "Mother Mary."

Jon Stewart has a brutal reaction to Trump waffling about pens
A man in a suit sitting behind a talk show desk looks angry. In the top left is an image of the president holding up a pen.

Stephen Colbert gleefully recaps the best signs at the 'No Kings' protest
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage, smiling. The caption at the bottom reads, "I like that one."

Riz Ahmed is troublingly intense in new 'SNL UK' promo
A close-up of a man grinning in a slightly creepy way.


The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!