Sen. John Kennedy Comments on Obama and Colbert’s Friendship
Senator John Kennedy from Louisiana recently lightheartedly suggested that Barack Obama and Stephen Colbert should share a “motel room” after a friendly interview aired on “The Will Caine Show.” The discourse followed a conversation between Obama and Colbert at the former president’s new Presidential Center in Chicago, ahead of the show’s imminent conclusion in mid-May.
During the interview, Obama offered critiques of President Trump, complimented New York City’s Democratic Socialist Mayor Zoran Mamdani, and weighed in on the current political climate. He even proposed that Colbert might make a better president than Trump. Kennedy expressed skepticism, remarking, “It’s not breaking news that President Obama doesn’t like Republicans. It struck me that he was merely trying to appeal to Colbert and his audience, which could be described as, well, minimal.” He added that Obama has a talent for pandering over persuading.
Kennedy noted that Colbert and Obama seemed to share a close connection, quipping, “They were just having fun together. No offense to Colbert, but I’ve always believed he’s somewhat superficial. Now, though, he seems to think he’s among the most intelligent people around. If you don’t take my word for it, just ask him. His personal vanity has always been quite evident.”
Additionally, Kennedy took the opportunity to address other matters, like the fate of Colbert’s show. “The issue wasn’t just about vanity or intellect; it boiled down to viewership. CBS was facing steep losses—around $40 million annually—due to low ratings before deciding to cancel the show,” he mentioned.
Colbert’s final show is scheduled for May 16th, and CBS announced in 2025 that the program would end for financial reasons. Colbert hinted in a recent interview that while there may not be clear proof of political motives behind the show’s cancellation, it felt like a likely reason.
In a twist, both Kennedy and Kaine seemed taken back by Obama’s praise for Mayor Mamdani, as Kennedy remarked, “I always perceived Obama as a capitalist, and here he shows some support for Mamdani, who identifies as a socialist—specifically, a democratic socialist. It’s not entirely surprising, though.”
No immediate comments have been made from Obama or Colbert regarding these exchanges.
