Stephen Colbert roasted CBS News after a China visa delay forced Tony Dokoupil to broadcast from Taiwan for Trump’s visit.
Stephen Colbert didn’t waste time turning a visa snag into a full-on late-night roast, bringing the spotlight back to CBS News after the network reportedly failed to secure proper access to cover President Trump’s state visit to China.
During Thursday’s monologue for “The Late Show. ” Colbert told viewers that all of the network’s news teams were on the ground in China to cover what he described as an epic and historic summit.. The exception. he said. was CBS News colleague Tony Dokoupil. who was left broadcasting from Taiwan after a Chinese visa issue wasn’t resolved in time.
Colbert leaned into the irony, calling the situation disappointing while also framing it as fitting CBS News’ slogan.. His joke landed on the idea that when major events happen. the network may end up at most one country away—an observation built around the mismatch between where the story was and where Dokoupil could legally work.
The comedian then broadened the comparison, pointing out that some other news organizations managed to be where they were covering.. He referenced ABC News. noting that David Muir’s team was reportedly in Beijing and that Muir appeared to learn about robotics during the coverage. using Colbert’s example to highlight how other broadcasts found a way in.
After playing footage of Muir’s interaction with a robot—taught to lay down on the ground through artificial intelligence—Colbert delivered another jab. joking that the robot “took the job” he’s set to start on May 22.. It was a wink at what’s next for him. but it also underscored how quickly entertainment-style framing can collide with the fast-moving realities of breaking news.
Colbert’s May 22 remark ties directly to the final chapter of his own run.. In January, CBS locked in the last air date for “The Late Show,” with the finale set for May 21.. The change in schedule didn’t come out of nowhere: CBS had previously announced last summer that “The Late Show” would be ending shortly after Colbert joked about Paramount’s $16 million settlement with President Trump. criticizing the deal as a “big fat bribe.”
At the time. CBS executives emphasized that the cancellation decision was financial. not personal—an important distinction that adds another layer to why Colbert’s jokes have been hitting with extra sharpness lately.. The visa mix-up became just another opening for him to satirize how major networks handle high-profile access and high-stakes timing.
For viewers, the sequence also reflects how Colbert’s comedy continues to bridge news and entertainment.. A setback involving international reporting access quickly became material about who gets into the room. who covers the moment. and what happens when logistics collide with expectations—especially during a summit that he framed as both historic and high-profile.
Meanwhile. Colbert’s own timeline is running in parallel. with the show’s weekday schedule still in place right up until the end.. “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m.. ET on CBS. and the monologue served as yet another reminder that his final run is moving into its closing stretch even as global headlines keep rolling.
Stephen Colbert CBS News China visa Tony Dokoupil The Late Show David Muir robotics