During Monday's broadcast of CBS' The Late Show, host Stephen Colbert appeared to inadvertently invoke former President Barack Obama's iconic 2008 campaign slogan, "Yes, We Can." This occurred while Colbert was delivering commentary intended to mock President Donald Trump's policies.

Mocking Immigration Protests and Trump's Actions

Colbert discussed a large protest against the Trump administration's immigration policies, noting that over 200,000 individuals demonstrated in St. Paul, Minneapolis. He described the atmosphere, referencing the protestors' signs and inflatable costumes.

The Inflated Constitution Incident

The host focused on one particular display: a giant inflatable balloon depicting President Trump seemingly defecating flames onto the U.S. Constitution. Colbert quipped about the motivations of the protestors.

He stated, “One day, their grandchild will ask them how they resisted the rise of American fascism.” Colbert then delivered a sarcastic response, asking if they could proudly say they created “an angry balloon that looks like it’s pooping fire.”

The Unintentional Slogan Reference

Following his joke, the late-night host declared, “Yes, you can,” which prompted immediate cheers and applause from the studio audience. In what seemed like a momentary slip, Colbert then added, “One reason so many people shout, ‘Yes, we can!’”

This statement directly referenced the slogan popularized by Obama during his 2008 presidential run. The audience and the show's band enthusiastically joined Colbert in a sustained “Yes, we can!” chant.

Colbert's Quick Recovery

After a brief chuckle, Colbert signaled for quiet. He then jokingly questioned his own reference: “I think that’s what Obama meant, right?”

The host quickly pivoted back to his prepared segment, shifting the topic abruptly by stating, “One reason so many people showed up to No Kings this weekend is that we are still at war with Iran, I think.” The article also noted unrelated news items concerning White House communications with Spain, missile firings by Iran, and reports regarding U.S. bombers.