Considering that many Republican senators are “beyond high risk” for coronavirus, it’s no wonder they aren’t keen on attending the National Convention in Florida — or, as Late Show host Stephen Colbert put it, “Trump’s COVID coming out party.”
However, Colbert noted on Tuesday that this has put the senators in a bit of pickle. Admitting why they don’t want to go would also be admitting the virus is a real threat and the Convention is a terrible idea — facts that, while true, would likely earn them the president’s ire.
“No-one wants to get on Trump’s bad side so they’re all ready with airtight excuses for why they’re staying home,” said Colbert, pointing to Senator Pat Roberts’ claim to have “some things to do in Kansas.”
“‘Oh, I’d love to go, but I’ve already scheduled things, you know, Kansas…stuff,'” said Colbert, imitating Roberts. “‘Polish the tornadoes, meet the wheat. Gotta do the whatchamacallit with the whosehisfaceis, not to mention put the doohickey on my thingamabob and then — oh no, sorry I can’t hear you, my mask is going through a tunnel!'”
Colbert also turned his critical gaze to an interview Trump had with CBS News, in which the president “reminded us that as bad as he is dealing with the coronavirus, he’s just as bad with race relations.”
Responding to the topic of Black people are being killed by law enforcement, Trump objected with the incredibly misleading claim that police are actually killing more white people. Which, as Colbert noted, is less than reassuring.
“‘Let me stop you right there,'” said Colbert in Trump’s distinctively whiny tone. “‘Our brave policemen are killing all people. No lives matter.'”