Stephen Colbert revives his Hunger Games tribute to send off Rex Tillerson in style (and oil)

Stephen Colbert reprises his Hunger Games tribute
(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/The Late Show)

On Tuesday's Late Show, Stephen Colbert explained the curious circumstances surrounding President Trump's tweet-sacking of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. But "Tillerson's firing today is just the latest in a massive purge of the Trump administration," he noted, listing off the biggest of the fallen Trumpites. "For those of us in the media, the constant turnover has been amazing to watch: the drama, the fireworks, the winners, the losers, the losers, the losers. It's like something out of The Hunger Games. Or, something even more dramatic than that — it's The Hungry to Leave Power Games." Colbert reprised his Caesar Flickerman persona from the 2016 campaign, adjusting it for the Trump White House.

Colbert/Flickerman ran through a version of Tillerson's life story and rocky tenure at the State Department, and then it was time to say goodbye. "All our sexy ex-Rexes are going back to Texas," he said. "So we bid Secretary Tillerson a symbolic farewell by filling this simple wooden coffin, first with Secretary Tillerson and next with what he loved most, delicious oil. ... Because whether it be fossil fuels or calling the president a f---ing moron, we know Rex Tillerson likes it crude." He gave the traditional farewell to the tribute (Trumpbute?) from District Oil, then threw up a bunch of other Trump White House alumni. "It's sad to see them leave," he said, "but they're going to a better place: testifying for Robert Mueller." Watch below. Peter Weber

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.