Stephen Colbert Has Emotional Response to Anti-Trump Bishop’s ‘Courage’

Stephen Colbert was visibly emotional and teared up during his monologue Wednesday night, appearing to be deeply moved by a speech directed at Donald Trump by a D.C. bishop.

Colbert showed a clip of the Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde’s speech to Trump during Tuesday’s inaugural prayer service when she urged the president to “have mercy upon the people in our country,” including “gay, lesbian, and transgender children,” as well as immigrant “communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away.”

Trump was unimpressed by the plea, later demanding an apology and describing it as “nasty in tone.”

However, Colbert took a different view. “That was beautifully said,” the emotional 60-year-old responded. “It took courage.”

The Late Show host, who is a devout Christian and has spoken about his faith often throughout his time on the show, continued, “Not only was it beautiful, it took courage to stand up there and say something simple, something so kind, something so true to the example of Christ.”

Colbert added, “And, even better, it made Trump super-uncomfortable because, here’s the thing: Sermons aren’t a debate. Trump just had to sit there and listen to it.”

Colbert also covered Vice President JD Vance’s reaction to the speech.

“Vance also seemed pretty annoyed to have to just sit there and take Jesus' words,” Colbert observed.

Referencing the viral joke throughout the 2024 general election that Vance had sex with a couch, Colbert added, “Of course, he looked uncomfortable the whole time. ‘Ugh, I can’t have sex with this pew. There’s no cushions.‘”

Colbert noted the round of GOP outrage aimed at Bishop Budde, most notably the response from “Trump lackey” Rep. Mike Collins, who posted on X, “The person giving this sermon should be added to the deportation list.”

“Hell yeah!” Colbert quipped. “Let’s send her back to the hellhole she came from: New Jersey.”

Colbert also played a clip of Trump’s response to the speech, in which the president called it, “Not too exciting, was it?”

“Yeah, dog, it’s church,” Colbert replied. “The most exciting thing that happens is sometimes they ring a little bell.”