Stephen Colbert Calls Donald Trump Anti-Muslim in Wake of His Response to New Zealand Terror Attack

The “Late Show” host says sympathy and love for Muslims is not Trump’s “brand,” adding that “he never, ever condemns the racists.”

Stephen Colbert kicked off his show on Monday with an outpouring of love and sympathy to the Muslim community and the people of New Zealand after Friday’s terror attack that killed 50 in that nation.

"All of our hearts go out to those at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques and the great people of New Zealand," he said, before turning his attention to Donald Trump’s response to the tragedy. He started with a clip of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who said she spoke with Trump after the attack, who offered his condolences.

When Trump asked her what America could do to aid them, Arden said in a press conference, "My message was sympathy and love for all Muslim communities."

"That’s not really Trump’s brand," Colbert said. "Trump has trouble showing love for things that are not him. And he has a particularly bad record with Muslims in this regard, so he’s in a bind."

He went on to explain, "On the one had, after a terrorist attack, to condemn the extremist ideology of the terrorists should be a slam dunk. On the other hand, he can’t jump. Also, he never, ever condemns the racists."

Colbert showed a clip of Trump in the wake of this latest terror attack where Trump said he did not believe there is an issue with white supremacy, instead suggesting there are just a few bad groups or individuals.

The "Late Show" host then ran down a list of similar presidential responses to racially charged incidents from Charlottesville to calling Africa and Haiti s–thole countries, concluding with the thought, "I’m just saying if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, then why does it keep goose-stepping?"

Trump’s chief of staff Mick Mulvaney was extra defensive, answering a question that wasn’t even asked on Fox News Sunday. When Chris Wallace asked why Trump doesn’t outright condemn white supremacy, Mulvaney responded, "The president is not a white supremacist. I’m not sure how many times we have to say that."

Then elsewhere, he said, "I don’t think anybody could say that the president is anti-Muslim."

When the camera cut back to Colbert, he was up close and staring directly into it. "The president is anti-Muslim," he said.

After a moment, he marveled, "That was actually kind of easy. That wasn’t hard at all."

Later in the show, Colbert revealed that he and the staff were actually poised to take Ardern up on an offer to visit New Zealand, leaving as soon as Wednesday.

Colbert, who is a huge "Lord of the Rings" fan and was down there a decade ago to film his small role in "The Hobbit" prequel trilogy, was going to become an honorary citizen. He said he hopes to reschedule their trip for another time. In the meantime, he had a wish for the nation.

"I pray with all my heart that they take the action down there and have the courage to take action that we seem to lack up here in the United States," he said. And it looks like that may just happen, as Ardern has promised stricter gun control laws in the wake of this tragedy, and it looks like she has her government’s support to make it happen.

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