Ossoff Critiques Trump’s Political Rise on Colbert Show

Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff appeared on CBS’s “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and described President Donald Trump’s political ascent as indicative of a “deeper disease” in society, suggesting that Trump is a product of a “rigged” system.

Ossoff mentioned his background in running a business that aimed to uncover “public corruption, war crimes, and abuse of power globally.” He talked about collaborating with individuals who risked their lives to bring the truth from oppressive societies where dissidents faced arrest and journalists dealt with severe government censorship. This comment seemed to resonate with the audience, prompting applause.

“Donald Trump’s America reminds us of those oppressive regimes and should genuinely concern us,” he told Colbert. “It’s troubling how a demagogue—who just promised to upend everything—could be elected president twice based on false claims. This reflects a fundamentally rigged system.”

Ossoff is the only Democratic senator facing re-election in a state that Trump won in 2024, making him a prime target for Republicans eager to hold their Senate majority. He gained significant attention during the 2021 Senate runoff elections in Georgia, previously won by Trump in 2016 and Biden in 2020, when he defeated Republican David Perdue.

He argued that Trump is “recalibrating” the system rather than addressing its injustices, referencing the controversial Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United ruling, which he criticized as extraordinarily destructive.

Colbert chimed in, noting that the Citizens United decision allows corporations to donate unlimited funds to political action committees, thereby influencing election outcomes.

“With corporations and the ultra-wealthy utilizing unrestricted money and secrecy, Congress has become skewed towards narrow interests, often at the expense of the public,” Ossoff added. “This has reversed the fortunes of working-class and middle-class Americans, even as the economy appears to be thriving. It contributes to the widening gap in wealth and power, which is precisely why figures like Donald Trump exist.”

The White House took aim at Ossoff following his comments. White House Press Secretary Alison Schuster characterized him as a “complete inch pretender to be a centrist” while alleging that he’s promoting extreme viewpoints. She claimed he did nothing while the Biden administration allegedly targeted people of faith and the pro-life movement.

This week, Colbert also made headlines regarding comments about being barred by CBS from airing an interview with Texas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico. CBS denied the claim, leading Colbert to express frustration over the situation.

He concluded a segment by humorously picking up a dog’s waste and crumpling up a paper that had a statement related to the incident, tossing it in the bag to emphasize his irritation.