Stephen Colbert Contemplates Another Presidential Run

Stephen Colbert, the well-known comedian from CBS, might be mulling over the idea of running for president once more. This speculation arose during a December 18 event for the left-leaning Slate magazine’s “Political Gabfest,” where he delivered a sarcastic remark in response to the question about his potential candidacy for 2028. “Yes, I should never run for president,” he quipped, acknowledging why some might wish for him to enter the race.

Continuing in his signature humorous style, Colbert expressed he would consider stepping forward for a political role if he felt compelled to serve the country further. “America is humanity’s last best hope,” he passionately stated, emphasizing a sense of duty to honor the founding principles that resonate deep within him.

Interestingly, while his humor might suggest otherwise, Colbert has shown interest in a presidential bid before—twice, in fact—though it’s been unclear whether he was serious or just having fun. His first attempt at a Democratic primary run was in 2007 during his tenure on the Comedy Central show, The Colbert Report. He even paid a $2,500 fee for the South Carolina primary but was dismissed by the state party as not being a serious contender.

He tried again in 2012, aiming to secure a place on the South Carolina Democratic primary ballot, but despite his intentions, he missed the submission deadline, resulting in another removal.

In recent news, CBS announced that Colbert’s talk show, which he has hosted for ten years, will conclude in May 2026. Interestingly, despite outperforming his competitors Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel, his ratings rarely surpassed 2.5 million viewers. Meanwhile, Greg Gutfeld from FOX News reported an average of 3.2 million nightly viewers in 2025, despite being available in fewer homes than CBS.

Colbert appears to be working on reshaping his image from being perceived as an extreme figure. In a recent interview, he suggested that he’s perhaps more centrist than people recognize. “People see me as this far-left person,” he mentioned, adding, “I think I’m more conservative than people think. I just happen to discuss extreme governments.”