Stephen Colbert Shuts Down 2028 Presidential Speculation

Comedian and “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert made headlines once again not for a political rant, but for shutting down speculation that he might run for president in 2028.

Speaking at Slate’s “Political Gabfest” event earlier this month, Colbert responded bluntly when asked whether he would consider a run “Yeah, I absolutely should not run for president,” he said, before sarcastically adding, “I understand why you’d want me to.”

While the crowd laughed and cheered, Colbert slipped into his signature satire, pretending to weigh the possibility of running as some sort of divine calling.

“If there’s anything I can do to forward the mission of our Founding Fathers… why, who am I to say that I should run? But if I hear the call obviously of the Lord…”

Of course, Colbert’s performance was more theatrical than political. Even his fellow panelists, former CBS anchor John Dickerson and New York Times writer Emily Bazelon, dismissed the idea entirely with Bazelon calling it “miserable.”

Still, the moment reignited memories of Colbert’s mock presidential runs in 2007 and 2012, when he filed to enter the South Carolina Democratic primary while playing a caricature of himself on The Colbert Report. Though he paid the entry fee, the Democratic executive council rejected his bid, rightly judging it unserious.

Despite the farcical tone, it’s worth noting how quickly liberal media figures like Colbert are floated as serious candidates by progressive circles often as a joke, but sometimes not. It's a reflection of the entertainment industry’s outsized influence on modern Democratic politics, where celebrity often carries more weight than experience.

Colbert’s own political messaging particularly in the Trump era has blurred the lines between comedy and activism. His nightly monologues are rarely about humor anymore; they’re targeted jabs at conservatives, free speech critics, and anyone skeptical of leftist orthodoxy. For years, his show has served as a platform for DNC talking points, thinly veiled as satire.

CBS announced earlier this year that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end in May 2026. That gives Colbert plenty of time to embrace a new role, but based on his own words sarcastic or not it won’t be commander-in-chief.

Still, the fact that we even entertain the idea of a late-night host running for president should be a wake-up call about just how unserious our culture has become when it comes to leadership.

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