Stephen Colbert Mocks Trump Speech With April Fools’ Opening

Late-night host Stephen Colbert used an April Fools’ Day prank to mock President Donald Trump during the April 1, 2026 episode of The Late Show.

At the start of his monologue, Colbert appeared to praise Trump’s recent primetime national address about the conflict in Iran. He described the speech as “concise, intelligent, and brought the nation together.” After a brief pause, he broke the tone by saying “April Fools,” signaling that the praise was not genuine.

Colbert then clarified that he had not actually watched the speech because his show tapes earlier in the day, before such addresses typically air. The initial compliment was part of a setup for the joke.

The speech itself focused on escalating tensions in Iran and the reported closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. While Colbert did not review the speech directly, he continued his monologue with broader criticism of Trump’s approach to policy, joking about inconsistency and comparing it to the behavior of a “goldfish.”

Colbert also referenced the timing of the broadcast, which coincided with the first night of Passover. He added another joke, saying he had put “lamb’s blood around his TV so the speech would pass me by,” alluding to the biblical Passover story.

The segment was consistent with Colbert’s established style, which frequently uses satire and humor to comment on political events. The brief moment of apparent praise was part of the April Fools’ Day format rather than an indication of a change in his views.