Stephen Colbert Plays Donald Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner in Late Show Sketch
Image via CBS Comedy Video Stephen Colbert
Donald Trump Jr.’s pre-election meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya, whose name really couldn’t sound more like a villain in a barely tolerable Liam Neeson movie, is damning, to say the least. Little Trump may not have the best judgment or media training, but his dad probably loves him anyway—probably. Late-night favorite Stephen Colbert, fresh off of his weeklong hiatus, gave his audience a soap opera-esque reenactment of the interactions that surrounded the disappointing consultation, complete with impersonations of Trump Jr., Jared Kushner and Veselnitskaya in a short sketch titled “Collusion.”
Trump Jr. was disappointed by Veselnitskaya, who, according to Colbert, “also answers to her Bond girl name, Corruption Galore.” He claims that he was duped into meeting her, expecting to receive “damaging information” about Hillary Clinton but instead engaging in a talk about the pressing matter of Russian adoption. “‘Her statements were vague, ambiguous and made no sense,’” read Colbert from a CNN report in which Trump Jr. was quoted. “So I assume she was immediately hired as a Trump speechwriter.” Trump Jr. also brought along Kushner and then-campaign manager Paul Manafort, but he claimed that he didn’t tell them what it was about and also had no idea who they were meeting with.
Colbert acted out what was most definitely the conversation between Trump Jr., Kushner and Manafort prior to the meeting:
Trump Jr.: Hey Jared, Paul, I know you guys are a little busy right now, but I need you to come to a meeting.
Kushner and Manafort: With who?
Trump Jr.: I don’t know.
Kushner and Manafort: About what?
Trump Jr.: I’m not telling you.
Kushner and Manafort: Okay, we’re in.
As if we couldn’t descend further into the Twilight Zone, the meeting was arranged by British music publicist Rob Goldstone, who has represented Cyndi Lauper and U2. So, yeah, this is where we’re at right now.
Watch Colbert’s sketch above. You can also watch Trump Sr.’s cameo in Russian pop star Emin’s 2014 music video “In Another Life” here. This is not a joke.