Colbert Parodies 'The Crown' to Lampoon Trump During U.K. State Visit

Stephen Colbert used a satirical sketch on "The Late Show" Tuesday night to lampoon President Donald Trump during his state visit to the United Kingdom, airing a faux trailer that recast the trip as a parody of the Netflix drama "The Crown."

In the segment, introduced as a teaser for a fictional series called "The Clown," a narrator promised viewers would see scenes of Trump meeting King Charles at Windsor Castle. The mock trailer then cut to a series of absurd gags, including a line in which Trump demands that Prime Minister Keir Starmer "deport Paddington Bear back to Peru" and a staged sit-down with Prince Andrew "to discuss all they have in common."

The reference to Prince Andrew alluded to his past association with Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of sex offenses and died in 2019. The sketch also played on the ceremonial trappings of a state visit, framing the President’s interactions with British leaders and royals in exaggerated, comedic terms.

Colbert’s segment aired as Trump was in the United Kingdom for the formal state visit that included meetings with the prime minister and the monarch. Late-night shows and satirists frequently target visiting world leaders, using humor to comment on diplomatic optics and political controversies.

The Late Show, broadcast on CBS, has a history of political sketches that satirize sitting presidents and international events. This newest parody follows other comedic takes on the visit that juxtapose pageantry with pointed jokes about policy, personality and past associations.

Representatives for the White House and for Colbert’s program did not immediately provide comment on the sketch. The mock trailer circulated online after the broadcast, drawing reactions from both critics and supporters of the president.

The state visit itself included formal ceremonies and public appearances that underscore longstanding diplomatic ties between the United States and the United Kingdom. Such visits often prompt commentary from media and entertainers in both countries, reflecting the intersection of politics, public image and popular culture.

By turning the visit into a short-form parody, Colbert joined a tradition of late-night comedians who use satire to frame current events for a television audience, emphasizing theatrical moments and controversy rather than policy detail.