During the opening monologue on tonight’s episode of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” the host added his voice to the online bonfire Donald Trump sparked after he invented a fictional African country while speaking to actual African leaders.
On Wednesday morning, during a speech given at a luncheon for African leaders, Trump made reference to “Nambia,” a country whose health care system he said “is increasingly self-sufficient.” Suffice to say, no such country exists (Trump was likely trying, and failing, to pronounce the name of Namibia).
“Now, there is no such country as Nambia,” Colbert said at the top of his show. “Despite that, they will soon have a better health care system than we do,” a reference to the GOP’s latest attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
Colbert continued: “He went on to praise the African republics of NAMBLA, Wango Tango, and Wakkanda.”
Watch the clip below.
TONIGHT: After the President spoke about the wonders of healthcare in #Nambia, Stephen considers moving to the (nonexistent) country. #LSSC pic.twitter.com/UUhH7u1JQ8
— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) September 21, 2017
Unsurprisingly “Nambia” was trending on Twitter for the better part of the day. Here’s a sample of the savage mockery that ensued after Trump’s gaffe:
https://twitter.com/JoshWarrun/status/910575244183789569
NAFTA, SHMAFTA. Trump will negotiate the best bilateral trade deals with #Nambia. Rust Belt: saved.
— Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid ? (@JoyAnnReid) September 20, 2017
Nambia, the world's top producer of covfefe. #PrayForNambia #nambia
— Julie Lynn ??? (@bellafortunate) September 20, 2017
Was #Nambia responsible for the #Bowlinggreen massacre? We may never #Covfefe
— Donatra (@groeblbubble) September 20, 2017
I just got an email from #Nambia. Apparently my cousin, a prince, died and left me millions of dollars.
— ??Paul Chambers?? (@feedingtubepaul) September 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/seankent/status/910619072722644992
The alternatives were "Wakanda", "Zamunda", "Busch Gardens" and "Everything the sun touches" #Nambia
— Josh Mann (@jdmann) September 20, 2017