On Wednesday, “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert remarked on the world’s anticipation of President Donald Trump’s response to the escalating military tensions between Israel and Iran. Rather than addressing this international concern directly, however, President Trump instead announced his plans to erect two “tall” and “tapered” flagpoles on the White House lawn, proudly describing them as “the most magnificent poles made.”
Commenting humorously on the event, Colbert cautioned viewers: “It sounds pretty cool. But fair warning—if you type ‘tall tapered magnificent pole’ into your office computer, expect a prompt call from HR.”
During the flagpole raising, the president notably hesitated to use a specific descriptive term, stating, “They call it a lifting. They also use another word, but I’m not going to use that word. Do you know what it is? It starts with an ‘E.'”
Colbert seized on Trump’s reluctance, speculating jokingly about the forbidden “E” word, and quipped, “It’s a word beginning with ‘E’ that he’s embarrassed to say publicly… Eric!”
