McCartney Slams Trump with 'Democracy' Zinger on Colbert's Farewell
Paul McCartney didn’t hold back on President Trump during the last hurrah of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which aired its final episode on May 21.
As the legendary Beatle took the stage, he unleashed a pointed critique while reminiscing about the band's American breakthrough. “America’s where all the music we loved came from — all the rock n’ roll, the blues, and the whole thing,” he declared, adding a nostalgic nod to Fred Astaire. But it was his next line that really hit home: “The land of the free, the greatest democracy, that’s what it was... and it still is... hopefully.”
This jab comes on the heels of a CBS studio band facing potential legal troubles, but McCartney’s focus was squarely on the political landscape. Earlier this month, he reflected on a recent concert in Los Angeles where he played “Hey Jude,” noting how music can bridge divides that politicians can’t.
“Particularly these days, you do something like ‘Hey Jude’ and you see this whole audience singing together,” McCartney shared. “In Trump’s America, with Republicans and Democrats at each other’s throats, when we do that song, they’re not. They’re all loving it, and it’s like, ‘Wow, this is pretty amazing.’”
He described how the moment the iconic tune began, all political tension evaporated. “You know, suddenly this room has forgotten all of that,” he said. “They’re just going to sing together. So those kinds of things, I think, are valuable.”
Colbert’s departure marks the end of an era after 11 seasons on CBS. The announcement in July 2025 that his show would conclude in May 2026 left fans reeling. “Before we start the show, I want to let you know something that I found out just last night. Next year will be our last season,” he revealed in a heartfelt social media clip. “And, yeah, I share your feelings. It’s not just the end of our show, but it’s the end of ‘The Late Show’ on CBS.”
Colbert also made it clear: “I’m not being replaced; this is all just going away.” As McCartney’s poignant remarks echoed through the studio, it was a fitting farewell to a show that often blended humor with sharp social commentary.
