Ossoff criticizes Trump on late night television
Sen. Jon Ossoff sharply criticized President Donald Trump during a Wednesday appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He argued that Trump’s political success signals what he called a deeper problem within American society.
Speaking with host Stephen Colbert, Ossoff compared the current political climate to authoritarian systems he said he had studied earlier in his career. Before entering politics, Ossoff ran a media company that investigated corruption and abuses of power in foreign countries. He told the audience that his team worked with whistleblowers and journalists who faced censorship and government retaliation.
Ossoff then said parts of modern American politics remind him of those environments. He warned that the trend should concern voters across the country.
Claims about a “rigged” system
During the interview, Ossoff called Trump a “symptom” rather than the root cause of the issue. He argued that the political system is tilted in favor of wealthy interests. According to him, that imbalance helped fuel Trump’s rise and return to office.
Ossoff pointed to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC as a turning point. He said the ruling allowed corporations and wealthy donors to spend unlimited money through political action committees. As a result, he argued, lawmakers became more responsive to private interests than to everyday voters.
Colbert summarized the decision as one that opened the door for unlimited corporate spending in elections. Ossoff agreed and said the change widened economic inequality. He claimed that even when the broader economy shows growth, working and middle class families often struggle. In his view, those frustrations helped create space for Trump’s message.
High stakes in Georgia
Ossoff now faces re election in Georgia, a state Trump carried in 2024. He is the only Democratic senator on the ballot this year in a state Republicans hope to keep in their column. Ossoff first won his seat in a closely watched 2021 runoff against Republican David Perdue.
He also accused Trump of reshaping the system for personal gain. Instead of fixing structural problems, Ossoff said, Trump has adjusted them to strengthen his own position.
White House pushes back
The White House quickly responded. Spokesperson Allison Schuster criticized Ossoff and rejected his claims. She accused him of backing policies the administration opposes and said he failed to stand up to what she described as federal overreach during the Biden years.
Meanwhile, Colbert has faced controversy of his own. He recently said CBS blocked him from airing an interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. CBS denied that accusation, and Colbert publicly challenged the network’s statement.
The exchange added another layer to an interview that already carried sharp political overtones.
