Stephen Colbert Defends Trump Jokes That Sparked #FireColbert Backlash

The 'Late Show' host addressed the controversy, but didn't apologize: "I have jokes, he has the launch codes. So, it's a fair fight."

The Late Show's Stephen Colbert responded to the #FireColbert backlash that hit Twitter this week, which called out the CBS late-night host for his jokes about President Donald Trump in Monday's monologue.

"Welcome to The Late Show. I'm your host, Stephen Colbert. Still? I am still the host? I'm still the host!" he said to open Wednesday's show, according to a transcript obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.

During Monday's show, Colbert unleashed a string of jokes aimed at Trump after the president made comments about the "fake media" in his interview with CBS' John Dickerson, walking out of the interview after calling Dickerson's show "Deface the Nation."

"Now, if you saw my monologue Monday, you know that I was a little upset at Donald Trump for insulting a friend of mine," Colbert continued, referring to Dickerson. "So at the end of that monologue, I had a few choice insults for the president in return. I don't regret that. He, I believe, can take care of himself. I have jokes, he has the launch codes. So, it's a fair fight.

"So while I would do it again, I would change a few words that were cruder than they needed to be," Colbert said on Wednesday. "I’m not going to repeat the phrase, but I just want to say for the record, life is short, and anyone who expresses their love for another person, in their own way, is to me, an American hero. I think we can all agree on that. I hope even the president and I can agree on that. Nothing else. But, that."

The talk-show host faced backlash after Monday's installment, sparking #FireColbert to spread on Twitter, with Trump supporters saying that one of Colbert's jokes in particular was offensive and possibly homophobic (when he joked about the president that "the only thing your mouth is good for is being Vladimir Putin's cock holster").

Colbert's other one-liners on the night included: "I love your presidency, I call it 'Disgrace the Nation,'" and "You're the PresiDunce, but you're turning into a real Pricktator."