Late-night television took a sharp turn into political satire on December 18, 2025, when Stephen Colbert delivered a monologue that had his studio audience in an uproar. The “Late Show” host zeroed in on a controversial decision by President-elect Donald Trump’s handpicked Kennedy Center board to rename the iconic John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The proposed new title—”The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts”—sparked immediate backlash, with Colbert’s crowd erupting in boos the moment the news broke. This moment, blending humor with pointed commentary, has since gone viral, highlighting the ongoing tensions between entertainment, politics, and cultural institutions.
The segment began innocently enough, with Colbert recapping Trump’s recent activities. But the tone shifted dramatically when he revealed the breaking news: “To make everyone forget how bad last night was [referring to Trump’s primetime speech], he did something worse today. Just before taping, we learned that Trump’s handpicked Kennedy Center board voted to rename the Kennedy Center to the Trump-Kennedy Center.” The audience’s reaction was instantaneous—loud boos filled the studio, a raw expression of disapproval that Colbert acknowledged with a wry smile. “I have a feeling you just found out, too. Yeah, it’s true,” he said, leaning into the crowd’s energy.
Colbert didn’t stop there. He dissected the absurdity of the rename, pointing out that the official new moniker honors both Trump and the late President Kennedy. “He can’t have his name on a memorial. He’s alive—or so his doctors claim,” Colbert quipped, drawing laughs amid the boos. He then targeted White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s tweet congratulating both leaders on the change. “Did she tweet that on her phone or a Ouija board?” the host joked, mocking the idea of extending kudos to a deceased president. The line landed like a punch, amplifying the audience’s mix of amusement and outrage.
Legal experts have since weighed in, noting that the board’s vote, while unanimous, holds little weight without congressional approval. The Kennedy Center, established in 1964 to honor JFK after his assassination, is protected by federal statute. Changing its name would require an act of Congress, a process unlikely to sail through smoothly given the partisan divide. Michael Kaiser, former president of the Kennedy Center, told The Washington Post that renaming it would be as unthinkable as rebranding the Washington Monument or Lincoln Memorial. “I think just as we would have a hard time imagining the Washington Monument or Lincoln Memorial named for someone other than Washington or Lincoln, it’s difficult to imagine the Kennedy Center named after anyone other than President Kennedy,” Kaiser stated.
Colbert framed the move as part of Trump’s pattern of self-promotion, escalating his satire with a personal jab: “So, buckle up, America. Before this is over, he’s going to rub his balls on everything. Why not just replace the Liberty Bell with Trump? I mean, he’s got a bigger crack.” The crude humor elicited gasps and more laughter, but it underscored a deeper critique—that this rename could be a distraction from more pressing issues. Colbert tied it to the impending release of Jeffrey Epstein’s client list by the Department of Justice on December 19, 2025. “It’s Epstein Files Eve. Don’t forget to leave Santa some cookies and a barf bag,” he added, suggesting the timing was no coincidence.
The Kennedy Center, a cornerstone of American culture since its opening in 1971, hosts prestigious events like the annual Kennedy Center Honors. Trump’s relationship with the institution has been rocky; during his first term, he skipped the Honors multiple times, citing conflicts amid criticism from artists and honorees. Now, with his allies on the board—many of whom are donors and supporters—the rename vote revives debates about politicizing arts venues. Joe Kennedy III, a descendant of JFK and former congressman, publicly rebuked the idea, stating Trump “can’t rename the Kennedy Center” without legislative action.
Social media exploded following the broadcast. Clips of the monologue amassed millions of views on platforms like X and TikTok, with users praising Colbert’s edge. “That silence after the boos? You could feel the tension,” one viewer tweeted. Others echoed Colbert’s Epstein distraction theory, with hashtags like #TrumpKennedyCenter and #ColbertRoast trending. Conservative commentators dismissed the segment as liberal bias, but even neutral observers noted the audience’s visceral response as a barometer of public sentiment.
This isn’t the first time Colbert has targeted Trump; his show has been a staple of anti-Trump satire since 2015. Yet, fans and critics alike sense a shift—Colbert’s humor feels sharper, less softened by years in late-night. As one X user put it, “Time didn’t mellow Colbert; it honed him.” The eruption of laughter and boos felt like a collective exhale, blending relief at the comedy with unease over the underlying truths.
What happened after the cameras cut? Sources close to the production say the energy lingered, with Colbert reportedly high-fiving audience members during commercial breaks. While no official “aftermath” drama unfolded, the moment has sparked whispers of renewed vigor in late-night TV, where hosts like Colbert are leaning harder into accountability amid a polarized landscape.
The controversy raises broader questions about legacy and power. Trump’s team defends the rename as a bipartisan tribute, but detractors see it as ego over heritage. With Republicans controlling Congress, the proposal could gain traction, though opposition from Kennedy family members and cultural advocates might stall it.
For now, Colbert’s monologue stands as a cultural flashpoint—a reminder that comedy can warn as much as it entertains. As the Epstein files drop and Trump’s second term looms, expect more such eruptions. In a divided America, laughter might be the sharpest tool left.
