He wishes.
One of former President Donald Trump’s loudest and most relentless television critics is once again flirting with national politics — and this time, it has sparked fresh questions about whether another media personality could try to parlay fame into a White House run.
Late-night host Stephen Colbert, who has spent years attacking Trump on network television, was asked earlier this month whether he could ever see himself running for president in 2028.
His answer was telling.
“I absolutely should not run for president,” Colbert said during a December 18 appearance at Slate’s Political Gabfest. Still, he quickly added that he understood why some supporters might want him to do it — a comment that immediately drew laughter and applause from the crowd.
From there, Colbert leaned heavily into political theater.
Using exaggerated patriotic language, the comedian joked that once his television show ends, he would need to consult both his family and a religious advisor to determine whether he was being called to “greater service.” Invoking America’s founding principles, Colbert mockingly suggested that if such a call came, who would he be to ignore it?
The audience responded by chanting his name.
Not everyone on stage was amused.
Veteran journalist John Dickerson agreed with Colbert’s original assessment that a presidential bid would be a bad idea. Emily Bazelon of The New York Times was even more blunt, describing the entire concept as “miserable.”
This isn’t Colbert’s first brush with presidential politics.
In 2007, while hosting The Colbert Report, he staged a mock run for president as a Democrat. Although he paid the required filing fee to appear on South Carolina’s Democratic primary ballot, party officials ultimately blocked his entry, determining he was not a serious candidate.
Colbert tried again in 2012, announcing another run and even forming a campaign committee. That effort collapsed after he failed to meet ballot deadlines.
The latest speculation comes as Colbert’s television career nears a major milestone. CBS confirmed earlier this year that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end in May 2026 — freeing the outspoken host from the nightly format that made him famous.
During the same panel discussion, Colbert drew additional attention after embracing Dickerson following his final broadcast on CBS Evening News. Moments later, Colbert raised his middle finger, a gesture that quickly circulated online and reignited criticism of his on-air conduct.
Whether Colbert’s comments were pure comedy or a calculated attempt to test public reaction remains unclear. What is clear, however, is that America has seen this pattern before — celebrities, media figures, and entertainers testing political waters while dismissing concerns as “just jokes.”
For many voters, especially those outside the media elite, the idea of another Hollywood-style figure stepping into presidential politics raises familiar questions about seriousness, leadership, and whether fame is being confused with qualification.
