President Obama Hijacks ‘Colbert Report’

Stephen Colbert finally met his match, and fittingly, he’s the most powerful man in the world.

In one of The Colbert Report’s most ambitious segments ever, President Barack Obama took over the show’s classic The Word segment (renaming it “The Decree” to make it sound more presidential), reading a tirade prepared for Colbert about Obamacare.

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“I, Stephen Colbert, have never cared for our president,” Obama said, reading Colbert’s lines. “The guy is so arrogant, I bet he talks about himself in the third person.”

What followed was a pointed takedown of Obama, complete with risque captions (among them: “POITUS interruptus”).

“Remember the healthcare.gov website? I think that’s where Disney got the idea for Frozen,” Obama said. (Caption:”Let it Loooad!”)

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Obama went on to talk about some of the benefits of Obamacare, particularly for young people. But how could he ever get the word out to them?

“He could try to appeal to them through a speech or a press conference, but young people don’t watch real news shows like this one.” Obama said. “They watch comedy shows, and I just don’t see the president going on one of those. They are beneath his dignity.” (Caption: “But above his approval rating.”)

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Colbert went on to interview Obama, asking him about nuclear launch codes and whether he leaves his socks around the house. But it was the ending that was perhaps the most surprising, when Colbert asked Obama, “Barack Obama: great president, or greatest president?”

“I’ll leave that one alone, Stephen,” Obama said smiling. 

The Colbert Report was broadcasting from George Washington University. Obama had previously appeared on the show twice. In 2008, then Sen. Obama appeared via satellite in an episode also featuring Democratic competitors Hillary Clinton and John Edwards; in 2009 he had a proper interview with Colbert.

The comedian ends his Colbert Report run on Dec. 18 and will take over CBS’ The Late Show next year.

Email: Aaron.Couch@THR.com
Twitter: @AaronCouch