Stephen Colbert stirred a storm on Monday night with a provocative statement comparing ICE officers to Nazis—though in a shocking twist, he argued that the Nazis were “better” because at least they were willing to show their faces.
The comment came during one of his final episodes of The Late Show, as he delivered a nonstop series of rants against former President Trump and his administration.
Calling Out ICE Leadership
The rant was sparked by a recent interview with Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, who had defended ICE officers amid growing criticism.
Bovino had been removed from overseeing operations in Minnesota after federal agents fatally shot Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
Colbert played a clip of Bovino on CNN, where he accused anti-ICE protesters of unfairly comparing federal agents to Nazis.
“They’re trying to portray Border Patrol agents and ICE agents as Gestapo, Nazis, and many other words,” Bovino said.
Colbert jumped in, cutting through the euphemisms with his trademark biting humor: “Yes, do not compare ICE or Border Patrol agents to the Nazis.
That’s an unfair comparison. The Nazis were willing to show their faces.”
Challenging the “Victim” Narrative
Colbert didn’t stop there.
He slammed Bovino’s claim that the real victims of the Minnesota shootings were the Border Patrol agents themselves.
“Bullsh*t,” Colbert said. “Masked agents shooting innocent people with impunity in the streets are not victims.
The only way they could even be considered close to victims is that they are, at best, weak-minded individuals full of anger, led into darkness by Donald Trump, now participating in an evil system that will stick to them like hot black tar for the rest of their lives.”
He also offered pointed commentary on the broader political climate, particularly the administration’s labeling of Pretti as a “domestic terrorist,” which Colbert said echoed the earlier shooting of Good.
Addressing a Frozen Nation
Amid the heavy criticism, Colbert also wove in a bit of current events, highlighting a massive winter storm affecting the country: “Today, more than 50 percent of Americans are digging out from a massive winter storm, freezing temperatures from Texas all the way up to Maine,” he said.
“It’s frigid here in New York City. I want to thank everyone who stood outside in the cold today before you came. I think we can all agree, f*** ICE.”
Declining Ratings and the End of an Era
Colbert’s relentless attacks on Trump and the administration may have contributed to falling viewership in the show’s final months.
Early Nielsen data for January revealed that The Late Show drew just 285,000 viewers in the advertiser-coveted 25-54 demographic—the lowest in its ten-year run.
CBS and Paramount ultimately decided to end the show last summer after 10 seasons, citing declining late-night revenue.
Colbert’s final episode is scheduled to air on May 21, which he confirmed during an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers: “It feels real now… it did not feel … I mean, I know it was real, but now, there’s four months left,” he said.
Debate Over Colbert’s Approach
The host’s Nazi comparison has ignited debate. Some viewers argued it went too far, while others defended it as sharp, dark satire.
Critics have suggested that CBS’s decision to cancel the show was politically motivated, potentially appeasing one of Colbert’s most vocal targets, President Trump.
Meanwhile, supporters have framed Colbert as a political martyr for standing firm in his criticism amid the shifting landscape of Trump-era politics.
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