“Late Show” host Stephen Colbert just gave his two cents on whether he’ll run for president in 2028.
When asked about a presidential bid during Slate’s “Political Gabfest” 20th anniversary show, Colbert, 61, initially quipped that he “absolutely” shouldn’t give it a go.
“I understand why you’d want me to,” Colbert told the crowd, according to People magazine. “I’d have to discuss with my faith leader and my family to see if, once my service on the ‘Late Show’ ends in May, if I could be of some greater service to this nation that I love so much.”
ANGELA WEISS via Getty Images
Between “The Colbert Report” and the “Late Show,” Colbert has been a late-night fixture for over two decades. He is gearing up for the final months of his run at the CBS staple following the network’s shock decision to cancel the “Late Show” earlier this year.
The announcement arrived just days after Colbert mocked parent company Paramount for settling a lawsuit — widely seen as frivolous — with President Donald Trump. The settlement preceded Paramount’s merger with Skydance, which needed approval by the Trump-friendly head of the Federal Communications Commission.
Although CBS said the show’s cancellation was “purely a financial decision,” critics who viewed it as political in nature dismissed this claim. Colbert, a frequent critic of the president, told GQ last month that he understands why people had such a reaction, yet hit the brakes on going there himself.
In September, Colbert told E! News that he knows the end of the “Late Show” is near and vowed to “savor every day” of the final months.
“I want to land this plane absolutely beautifully and I’ve got nothing else on my mind,” he said.
“I love what we do, and I want to go to work on Tuesday and for the next nine months with these people and work hard to have fun,” he added. “We do the show with each other. We do the show for each other, every day. And I have the privilege and responsibility that day to share with the audience what we did. And I love it.”
