Stephen Colbert took a pointed shot at his network's leadership Thursday night while mocking Donald Trump over the so-called Board of Peace's billion-dollar membership fee, quipping that CBS paid 'just $16 million' to 'obey' the president.
Colbert, who is signing off as The Late Show's host in May after Paramount decided to cancel his show, has spent the past few months zinging his corporate bosses. During his opening monologue, he riffed on Trump's recently launched 'Board of Peace,' which he bills as a charter to resolve global conflicts and will chair personally.
While more than 20 countries have said they will join the board, major Western allies have indicated they will not take part due to concerns, especially as tensions escalate over Greenland. Trump has already disinvited Canada following Prime Minister Mark Carney's rebuke but has extended invitations to both China and Russia.
'Trump's next mission in Davos was debuting a new international club that he calls the Board of Peace, where nations can pay $1 billion for a permanent seat. No surprise that peace has a price,' Colbert began. He added, 'Right now, it's unclear where the funds would be held. My guess is Trump's personal piggy bank, the Canklebankle.'
After ridiculing the board as 'literally just doing model U.N.,' Colbert took aim at his network's parent company, reminding viewers that Paramount paid Trump to settle a 'meritless' lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview just weeks before the FCC approved the Skydance-Paramount merger. 'Now, admittedly, the idea of paying a billion dollars to obey Donald Trump seems a little steep; after all, CBS got to do it for just $16 million,' he cracked.
Colbert also reacted to FCC chairman Brendan Carr's push to enforce equal time rules, which appears aimed at late-night hosts critical of Trump. 'I've got one thing to say to the FCC,' Colbert added. 'I'm flattered you think that appearing on my show has the power to affect politics in any way, but I've been doing this job for 21 years, and let me tell you something, buddy—if our government had turned out the way I had chosen, you would not have the power to make this announcement.'
