NEED TO KNOW

In a recent interview, Stephen Colbert was asked who he would want to switch bodies with for 24 hours
The late-night host quickly named Donald Trump and explained his reasoning, admitting the president was a “predictable” answer for him
Colbert’s quip comes days after the president slammed the Late Show host as a “pathetic trainwreck”

If Stephen Colbert could switch bodies with anyone for a day, he’d choose President Donald Trump.

Speaking at Slate’s Political Gabfest during its 20th anniversary show on Dec. 18, CBS News’ John Dickerson asked the 61-year-old late-night host: “If you could slip into the body of a person for 24 hours, who would it be?”

To which Colbert replied, “I mean, it’s such a predictable answer for me. But I would slip inside the skin of our president.”

As for why he’d want to embody the 79-year-old president — with whom he’s frequently sparred — Colbert had a brief and decisive explanation, saying that if he could be Trump, “I would resign.”

“I’ve anticipated this. No scandal, no confession, no Sturm und Drang,” Colbert continued.

“Just go, ‘It’s been great. I’m the best, ever. I’m gonna go out on top. I’ve done everything. I’m just gonna go.’

That’s it. It can be a glorious ending, just end it.”

After a moment of consideration, Colbert then wondered if the Freaky Friday-esque experiment would go both ways.

“I have a harrowing follow-up question: Is he taking over my body for 24 hours?”

Colbert quipped, joking that he’d tell his wife, “Darling, go see your sister for a while.”

Colbert’s remarks are the latest in his ongoing feud with the president, who recently slammed Colbert via Truth Social as a “pathetic trainwreck with no talent or anything else necessary for show business success.”

“Now, after being terminated by CBS, but left out to dry, he has actually gotten worse, along with his nonexistent ratings,” Trump added. “Stephen is running on hatred and fumes ~ A dead man walking! CBS should, ‘put him to sleep,’ NOW, it is the humanitarian thing to do!”

Trump has been outspoken about his opinion on Colbert in recent months, particularly since the comedian announced in July that his show would be ending in May 2026 after 10 seasons.

News of Colbert’s show ending came days after he blasted Paramount, the parent company of CBS, for its July 3 settlement with President Donald Trump for $16 million following a legal battle in which he accused journalists at 60 Minutes of deceptively editing a 2024 interview with his presidential election opponent, Kamala Harris.

Along with his revelation of wanting to switch places with Trump, Colbert also shared during Political Gabfest whether he’d consider running for president in 2028.

“Absolutely, I should not run for president,” he said of the frequently asked question from his fans.

“I understand why you’d want me to,” he told the audience, before channeling his inner politician: “I’d have to discuss with my faith leader and my family 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.”