Just hours after Donald Trump was elected president of the United States, his black-outreach director Omarosa Manigault told reporters “it’s so great our enemies are making themselves clear” because her boss “has a long memory and we’re keeping a list.”
Her comment was meant as a threat to those like Sen. Lindsey Graham, who proudly voted for Evan McMullin, but could also spell trouble for just about anyone who has mocked or feuded with the president-elect over the past few years—including The Late Show’s Stephen Colbert.
“An enemies list,” Colbert said Thursday night. “Wow, they went from zero to Nixon in no time flat.” He said that’s “worth noting because some people in late-night have said one or two things that were critical of Donald Trump.” But surely Trump isn’t really “some vindictive predator savoring his chance to use the office of the president for payback,” right?
According to Omarosa, “Every critic, every detractor, will have to bow down to President Trump,” she said. “It’s everyone who’s ever doubted Donald, who ever disagreed, whoever challenged him. It is the ultimate revenge to become the most powerful man in the universe.”
“It was Sam Bee and Seth Meyers!” Colbert said in response. “They’re the ones who said all those horrible things about you. I was just joking. All hail our glorious leader! Giant hands! You’ve got giant hands! You’re going to be great!” As the applause died down, he added, “...is what a pussy would say.”
