NEW YORK – In a television moment that instantly became a viral sensation, Stephen Colbert turned the latest headlines surrounding President Donald Trump into a masterclass of political satire. On a recent episode of The Late Show, the host took aim at a bizarre convergence of events: a confusing case of mistaken identity involving late-night hosts and the bestowal of a questionable “Peace Prize” upon the President by the world’s governing body of soccer.

With his signature blend of incredulity and wit, Colbert dissected the absurdity of Trump’s recent accolades, labeling the President’s new trophy a “participation award” that looked less like a Nobel and more like a prop from a B-movie.

The “Peace Prize” That Smells Like Chicken

The centerpiece of Colbert’s monologue was the revelation that Donald Trump had been awarded the inaugural “FIFA Peace Prize” by Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA. Colbert, never one to let a prop comedy opportunity slide, wasted no time in mocking the physical appearance of the award.

“It looks like the poster for a movie called Zombie Planet 3 exclusively on a service called Plumbbo with Ads,” Colbert quipped, pointing to an image of the gaudy plaque presented to Trump.

The roast didn’t stop at the visual critique. Colbert dove into the “perks” that came with the honor. Breaking down the footage of the ceremony, he listed the accompanying items with gleeful sarcasm: a medallion, a ribbon, and—in a creative flourish of his own imagination—a “macaroni necklace” and a lapel sticker that says “Ask me about my peace prize.”

“Is Mr. President a scratch and sniff? It smells like a chicken nugget,” Colbert joked, imitating the voice of the FIFA president presenting the “gifts.” The audience erupted as Colbert painted a picture of a world leader receiving what amounted to a glorified goody bag from a child’s birthday party.

Colbert also took a direct shot at Gianni Infantino, the man behind the award. Referring to him as “Mr. Clean’s pervert brother,” Colbert highlighted the strange and sycophantic relationship between the FIFA head and the American President. He mocked Trump’s reference to Infantino as “my boy,” acting out a skit of a desperate son seeking approval from an indifferent father.

The Kennedy Center Confusion

Before diving into the soccer absurdity, Colbert addressed another headline-grabbing moment from Trump’s weekend: his hosting of the Kennedy Center Honors. The event, usually a celebration of the arts, turned into a platform for Trump to air grievances—and apparently, to get his comedians mixed up.

According to reports cited by Colbert, Trump claimed in his speech that “Jimmy Kimmel was horrible” when he hosted the event in the past. There was just one problem with that anecdote.

“Just a quick brain check for Grandpa Podenkull… Jimmy Kimmel has never hosted the Kennedy Center Honors,” Colbert deadpanned, leaning into the camera for emphasis. “But here’s the thing: I did.”

The revelation that the President could not distinguish between his late-night critics was a goldmine for Colbert. It underscored a recurring theme in Colbert’s comedy: the idea that Trump is less concerned with facts than with creating a narrative that suits his mood. To Trump, all late-night hosts are seemingly interchangeable villains in his personal drama.

“Miserable, Horrible People”

Colbert also shared a transcript of Trump’s actual opening remarks at the prestigious gala. In a room filled with some of the most accomplished artists and performers in the nation, Trump reportedly told the audience: “Many of you are miserable, horrible people, but you are persistent.”

“That is a man who knows how to please a crowd, am I right?” Colbert laughed, feigning admiration for the sheer audacity of the insult. The host noted the irony of Trump, a man who famously craves adoration, standing before a captive audience and berating them to their faces. It was a stark reminder of the “four-year-long birthday month” that Colbert predicts the country is currently enduring.

The “Stephen Colbert Joke Prize”

In a brilliant comedic pivot, Colbert decided that if FIFA could hand out made-up awards, so could he. After mocking Trump’s “participation trophy,” the host was suddenly interrupted by a staff member handing him a golden statue of his own.

“What is this? Oh my gosh, it’s the first annual Stephen Colbert Joke Prize!” he exclaimed with mock surprise, reading the inscription. “And the winner is… Stephen Colbert!”

The bit was a perfect mirror to the FIFA situation. Colbert humbly accepted the award from himself, thanking the “committee” (which he revealed was just him asking the prop department to make something during rehearsal). It was a meta-commentary on the hollow nature of self-congratulation, a trait he frequently attributes to the former President.

Soccer, Football, and the “Metric System”

The monologue concluded with a look at Trump’s sudden interest in rebranding the world’s most popular sport. Colbert played a clip of Trump musing that “soccer” should really be called “football” in the United States, despite the existence of the NFL.

“It doesn’t need to make sense, this is America!” Colbert shouted, channeling a patriotic fervor. “It’s the land of the free, home of the brave, not the land of the sensible.”

Colbert joked that by suggesting such a radical change, Trump was “daring MAGA to break up with him.” He imagined a confused supporter trying to process the shift: “Okay, I’m cancelling football… are they still supporting me? Wow, okay, we’re going metric system!”

A Satirical Masterpiece

Throughout the segment, Colbert demonstrated why he remains the “King of Late Night” in the Trump era. By taking the President’s own words and actions—whether it’s a confusing speech about music being “soft and soothing” like a menu item, or accepting a dubious medal from a controversial sports figure—Colbert amplifies the inherent comedy without needing to distort the truth.

The “FIFA Peace Prize” segment, in particular, stands out as a “Golden Way” to mock the President because it attacks the very thing Trump values most: prestige. By reducing the award to a “Super Retendo” game console knock-off, Colbert strips away the veneer of importance Trump tries to project.

As the political landscape continues to provide endless material, Stephen Colbert proves night after night that sometimes, the best way to deal with the absurd is to simply hold up a mirror—or in this case, a scratch-and-sniff sticker—and laugh. The audience at the Ed Sullivan Theater certainly agreed, roaring their approval for a host who knows exactly how to score a goal against the absurdity of the modern news cycle.

For now, Donald Trump has his FIFA medal, but Stephen Colbert has the last laugh—and a shiny new “Joke Prize” to prove it.