š„LATE-NIGHT SHOCKER: Stephen Colbert Tears Into Pete Hegseth ā Internet Erupts Over Brutal Moment š±š„
In an unexpected twist that has sent shockwaves through the late-night television landscape, Stephen Colbert has turned Fox News personality Pete Hegsethās controversial remarks about āfat troopsā into a national punchline. Hegsethās fiery speech at Marine Corps Base Quantico, which targeted military fitness and diversity initiatives, quickly became fodder for late-night comedians, igniting a cultural backlash and a comedic feeding frenzy.
Hegseth convened a mandatory meeting with senior military officers, framing it as a āfrank conversationā about discipline and patriotism. However, attendees reported that the address devolved into a scathing critique of the militaryās supposed decline, with Hegseth targeting overweight commanders and advocating for the elimination of diversity programs. His rhetoric, described by critics as a tirade, quickly gained traction online, leading to a surge of memes and commentary.
As clips of Hegsethās speech circulated, phrases like āmilitant cosplayā and āboot camp for Fox viewersā began trending, setting the stage for a late-night comedy showdown.
On The Late Show, Stephen Colbert wasted no time in turning Hegseth’s remarks into comedic gold. After addressing the looming government shutdown, Colbert pivoted to Hegsethās speech, quipping, āNot everyone gets to stop working… Perfect for anyone whoās ever said, āI just wish this TSA worker groping me was also angry.āā

Then came the zinger that lit up social media:
āPete Hegseth is out here calling generals fat and canceling diversity programs like some kind of five-star douche.ā
The audience erupted, and Colbertās impersonation of Hegsethās toneācomplete with a mock-sergeant cadenceāamplified the humor. āKill people! Break things! And while youāre at it, break your cholesterol record!ā he shouted, perfectly capturing the absurdity of Hegseth’s bravado.
Not to be outdone, Jimmy Kimmel opened his show with his own take on the situation. He ridiculed the absurdity of Hegsethās all-hands military meeting, joking that Republicans wanted to reallocate defense funds to enhance the Mar-a-Lago omelet bar. Kimmelās deadpan delivery highlighted Hegsethās theatrics, concluding with a jab at the appearance-focused culture Hegseth seemed to promote.
Meanwhile, Ronny Chieng on *The Daily Show* described Hegsethās address as āthe weirdest intervention in Pentagon history,ā suggesting that instead of calling a meeting, Hegseth could have simply left comments on social media. His chaotic energy resonated with audiences, further emphasizing the ridiculousness of the situation.
Seth Meyers also weighed in, connecting Hegsethās rhetoric to broader political absurdities. He quipped about the hypocrisy of those preaching discipline while indulging chaos, drawing parallels to former President Trumpās outlandish claims.

Across late-night television, the consensus was clear: Hegsethās performance was ripe for satire. The combination of macho rhetoric, culture-war buzzwords, and absurdity made for perfect comedic material. Within 48 hours, social media was flooded with memes, clips, and remixes that turned Hegsethās comments into a cultural phenomenon.
As Colbertās writers noted, āThe more extreme the performance, the easier the punchline. He basically wrote our monologue for us.ā
The online reaction was swift and polarized. Conservative pundits accused the late-night hosts of mocking patriotism, while progressives argued that satire serves as a vital form of accountability, especially in the face of extreme rhetoric. Regardless of political alignment, Hegsethās speech had transformed into a case study on how quickly a public address can become a cultural flashpoint.
By the end of the week, Pentagon officials downplayed the Quantico meeting, labeling it āmotivational in nature.ā However, the incident underscored the blurred lines between governance and performance in modern politics. In an age where every soundbite can become content, the episode highlighted how power and parody coexist in real time.
Stephen Colbert, as always, demonstrated his knack for turning political absurdities into art. What began as a military address morphed into a national punchline, reminding us that in 2025, the theater of politics extends beyond the podium to the comedy desk and social media feeds.
As Colbert concluded with a smirk and a standing ovation, he encapsulated the moment perfectly: āIf this is the new war for Americaās soul, then God help us ā because Pete Hegseth just got roasted into basic training.ā