Stephen Colbert says Trump’s name for first time in months as he makes new dig at former president

Stephen Colbert has refused to say former US President Donald Trump’s name on live television since November, instead opting to utilise nicknames provided by viewers on Twitter via hashtag #HeWhoShallBeNamed.

However, on last night’s episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Colbert broke his silence to say the twice-impeached politician’s name aloud to deliver what he clearly felt was an important — yet stark —reminder.

“Former President, Lollacolluda…Naturally, we all want to forget about that guy,” Colbert begins, using one of many of Twitter’s suggested nicknames before uttering his true title. “Since the day he went out and lied about the election November 5. Since that day, I try not to say his name, we don’t show his name on air, I don’t do my impression because, haven’t you suffered enough?” he asks the audience, who laughs and applauds in response.

“There are times when you just have to slap yourself in the face, put a little cold water on the back of your neck, bear down on the bite stick and remind yourself just how bad it was,” Colbert continues. “By repeating out loud the simple fact: Donald Trump is a fascist.”

“And that’s not just me,” he adds. “That’s not just me flapping’ my gums, that’s Chairman of the Joints Chief Mark Milley.”

Colbert then goes onto relay that General Mark Milley claimed the former president was “stoking unrest, possibly in hopes of an excuse to invoke the Insurrection Act and call out the military” after losing the 2020 election.

“This is a Reichstag moment,” Milley added of Trump’s behaviour at the time, in reference to Hitler’s ‘Reichstag Fire Decree.’ For historical context: In 1933, Hitler utilised the Reichstag building fire, which was set aflame by a communist, to seize control of Germany by claiming communists were plotting against the government, thus setting in motion the Nazi Party’s rise to power.

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