Stephen Colbert shut down the idea of a presidential run after his tenure on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert ends in May, telling audiences at Slate’s Political Gabfest that seeking the Oval Office is not in his future. Speaking alongside hosts John Dickerson, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz during the December 18 event, the 61-year-old comedian addressed speculation that he might explore public service following his exiting CBS’ flagship late-night program.
“Absolutely, I should not run for president,” Colbert said, according to People, drawing laughter from the crowd. Despite the firm rejection of a possible presidential campaign, the longtime host acknowledged that he intends to reflect deeply on what service could look like once his nightly platform concludes.
Considering Life After Late Night
“I’d have to discuss with my faith leader and my family,” Colbert added, “to see if, once my service on The Late Show ends in May, if I could be of some greater service to this nation that I love so much.”
Colbert’s comments surfaced amid ongoing public conversations about the next steps for the comedian, who has spent nearly a decade helming CBS’ flagship late-night offering. CBS reportedly plans to end the program due to financial considerations.
Though Colbert appears to be ruling out the presidency, he stopped short of dismissing public engagement entirely. His remarks indicate he may explore other forms of civic involvement following his departure.
A History of Political Satire
Colbert has long intertwined comedy and political commentary. In 2012, during the presidential election cycle, he playfully announced a bid for the presidency as part of a segment designed to highlight campaign finance loopholes.
To proceed with an exploratory committee at the time, he relinquished control of his satirical Super PAC — a storyline that illuminated concerns about unrestricted financing in national elections.
“That’s my baby,” he joked to ABC News in 2012. “Do you know how hard it is to give away a baby? Now imagine if that baby had a whole lot of money.”
Colbert rose to prominence with The Colbert Report, where his fictional conservative pundit persona offered exaggerated takes mimicking cable news commentary. His work often engaged with political systems and media influence, though grounded in humor rather than candidacy.
CBS Era Nears Its End
Colbert assumed hosting duties at The Late Show in 2015, succeeding David Letterman. His mix of satire, interviews and cultural commentary helped anchor CBS’ late-night lineup for nearly 10 years. When CBS announced the program’s end earlier this year, Colbert shared that the news surprised him but praised his staff and guests for shaping a decade of programming. The network has not yet confirmed a replacement format for the time slot.
With Colbert preparing to sign off next spring, conversations continue about whether he will retire from media or shift into new forms of public-facing work. For now, he appears content ruling out one direction — a run for president — while leaving the door open for meaningful civic contribution after May.
