Stephen Colbert, the CBS late-night host known for his left-leaning comedic style, has hinted at the possibility of a presidential run following his departure from the show in May 2026.
During a Political Gabfest event hosted by Slate magazine, Colbert was asked about a potential 2028 presidential bid. According to Breitbart, Colbert responded with his characteristic sarcasm, stating, "Yeah, I absolutely should not run for president," before adding, "I understand why youd want me to." He continued his satirical musings by suggesting he might consider running if he felt a call to "greater service to this nation."
Colbert's comments, while humorous, touched on themes of patriotism and duty. "Because what I believe is Americas the last best hope of mankind," he said, adopting a tone of mock reverence. He elaborated, "and if theres anything I can do to forward the mission of our Founding Fathers whose love of freedom and belief in the rights of man abides in my heart like the very blood in my veins and the strength in my arms. Why, who am I to say that I should run? But if I hear the call obviously of the Lord."
This isn't the first time Colbert has toyed with the idea of running for office. He previously flirted with presidential campaigns in 2007 and 2012, though both efforts were more theatrical than genuine. In 2007, he attempted to enter the Democratic primary in South Carolina, even paying the $2,500 fee, but was ultimately rejected by the state party for not being a serious candidate. A similar attempt in 2012 also fell short when he missed the filing deadline.
CBS has announced that Colbert's tenure as host of his late-night show will conclude in May 2026, marking the end of a decade-long run. Despite his show's cancellation, CBS has no plans to replace it with another late-night talk show. While Colbert managed to attract a larger audience than competitors like Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel, his viewership rarely exceeded two and a half million. In contrast, Fox News' Greg Gutfeld has consistently drawn around 3.2 million viewers, despite the network's limited reach compared to CBS.
In recent months, Colbert has attempted to reshape his public image, distancing himself from his more extreme left-wing reputation. In a November interview, he claimed, "People perceive me as this sort of lefty figure," but insisted, "I think Im more conservative than people think. I just happen to be talking about a government in extremis." As Colbert prepares to exit the late-night scene, his future endeavors, whether in politics or elsewhere, remain a subject of speculation.
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