As he said “yanking their own lever,” Colbert held up a clenched hand and appeared to pantomime masturbation.

Recall that in May, Colbert said the only thing President Trump's mouth is good for “is being Vladimir Putin's c--- holster,” launching the #FireColbert hashtag on Twitter, accusations of homophobia and prompting a flood of complaints to the Federal Communications Commission.

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FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a radio interview that the commission would review the complaints and “take the appropriate action,” but experts in communication regulations said there was never a real chance that CBS would be fined. Because his show airs late at night, Colbert enjoys greater leeway than hosts who appear on television earlier in the day.

Ultimately, the FCC did not penalize CBS for the comedian's “c---holster” remark. Tuesday's gesture seems unlikely to draw a fine, either.

Reflecting on his joke in May, Colbert said he “would change a few words that were cruder than they needed to be” but defended his overall tone.

“I don’t regret that,” Colbert said. “I believe he can take care of himself. I have jokes; he has the launch codes. So, it’s a fair fight.”

Members of Colbert's studio audience laughed at his gesture on Tuesday. His fans watching at home probably did the same.