Late Show host and well-known Republican critic Stephen Colbert has unexpectedly come to the defense of former Vice President Mike Pence.
His comments come after the latter was branded "not a leader" and not capable of winning the 2024 presidential election by GOP House lawmaker Matt Gaetz at the Turning Point USA’s Student Action Summit.
Colbert also took the opportunity to pick on Gaetz over allegations of trafficking a minor that have been haunting him for two years, but have not resulted in any indictment.
"Oh snap! Mike Pence just got schooled by a guy who’s not allowed within 50 feet of one,” the Late Show host joked.
The comedian further jabbed at Gaetz, noting that the accusation of trafficking an underage girl "doesn’t appear to have affected his speaking schedule". He also chuckled that the congressman would "attend anything with the words 'student' and 'action' in the title" referring to the youth section of the conservative Turning Point USA organization.
However, Colbert did not hold back against Pence either, mocking his speech for being "electric… until he gave it". The comedian was not fond of the former VP’s attempt to paint himself as an average American living an ordinary life, and suggested that watching grass grow would be "more exiting" than Pence's talk of post-White House life.
Despite Pence suggesting that a buying a new lawnmower was the most exciting thing in his life since the end of his White House term, he has also been busy writing his memoirs, with the first book out of the expected two scheduled to hit the shelves on November 15, 2022. Even more intriguing is the fact that the tell-all dubbed ‘So Help Me God’ may give an exclusive look from Pence's perspective on the events of January 6, 2021, and how his refusal to delay the certification of Biden's electoral victory cost Pence his relationship with then-President Donald Trump.