Stephen Colbert, host of “The Late Show,” took aim at President Donald Trump over his denial of being under pressure to negotiate an end to the war with Iran. Colbert noted that efforts to broker a ceasefire have stalled, leading Trump to extend the truce. However, Trump pushed back on social media, writing on Truth Social: “I read the Fake News saying that I am under ‘pressure’ to make a deal. THIS IS NOT TRUE! I am under no pressure whatsoever, although, it will all happen, relatively quickly! Time is not my adversary.”
Colbert’s Retort
Colbert responded sarcastically: “Oh yeah? Have you taken a gander at your ankles lately?” He then displayed a photo of Trump’s swollen ankle taken on July 16, 2025, quipping, “It’s never a good sign when your shoes have a muffin top.”
Medical Background
The White House has stated that Trump suffers from chronic venous insufficiency, a condition where blood flow from the legs back to the heart is impaired. This leads to swelling in the feet and ankles, which has been visible in many recent photos of the president.
Colbert’s monologue on Tuesday night highlighted the apparent contradiction between Trump’s claims of no pressure and the visible signs of stress on his body.
