It’s often the job of the stand-up comedian and the late night talk show host to put into words feelings of disbelief, dismay, confusion, sometimes even anger.
On Wednesday, after US President Donald Trump announced a ban on transgender individuals serving in the US Military, Stephen Colbert had just two words, and they were, shall we say, a bit untoward to the president.
In last night’s episode of “The Late Show” with Stephen Colbert, the comedian recalled the moment he found out about the transgender military ban.
TONIGHT: The President's morning tweets are often crazy, but seldom as cruel as the pronouncement he made this morning. #LSSCpic.twitter.com/196q1P6Uo6
— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) July 27, 2017
“I began my day today, as I often begin my days, by checking Donald Trump’s Twitter feed to see how far the crazy has spread,” Colbert said, “and today I really think he’s off his meds because today he went from crazy to cruel.”
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Colbert went on to read out the series of tweets the president fired off yesterday morning, in which he announced transgender individuals would not be allowed to serve in the US Military “in any capacity,” on account of the “tremendous medical costs and disruption” that they would cause.
After reading the final of three tweets, in which Trump signed off with a curt, “Thank you,” Colbert stared directly into the camera, a look of incredulity on his face.
“Thank you?” Colbert asked, before delivering the punchline.
“F--k you,” he said.
Read More: Trump Announces Ban on Transgender People in Military
Colbert wasn’t the only late night host to address the transgender ban.
Jimmy Fallon took a different approach, inviting transgender comedian Patti Harrison to address the announcement on “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon.”
Jimmy invites transgender comedian Patti Harrison to #FallonTonight to address Trump's transgender military ban pic.twitter.com/C6rEMclpgQ
— Fallon Tonight (@FallonTonight) July 26, 2017
“Trump says transgender people in the military would be a tremendous disruption,” Harrison quipped, “and I get it: if you constantly draw attention to yourself, spend all day distracting everyone, and cost taxpayers millions of dollars, the perfect job for you isn’t the military, it’s the President of the United States.”
James Corden, for his part, chose to express himself in song. On the “Late Late Show,” Corden donned a tuxedo and belted out a trans-inclusive rendition of Nat King Cole’s “L-O-V-E.”
“POTUS thinks it’s unsavory, patriots who know real bravery, Trump’s got hate for me and you,” Corden sang.
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As for the transgender ban itself, the Department of Defense yesterday referred all questions to the White House, in doing so distancing itself from the announcement.
“We will continue to work closely with the White House to address the new guidance provided by the Commander-in-Chief on transgender individuals serving in the military,” Capt. Jeff Davis, a spokesman, said in a statement.