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Stephen Colbert has offered a blistering take on Boris Johnson , referring to the new UK prime minister as a “shaved muppet” and “the world’s worst cheerleader”.
The late-night host reacted on Tuesday to Mr Johnson’s election as the new leader of the Conservative Party, telling his US audience: “So things are pretty bad here, but on the bright side, they’re also bad in other places.
“Take Great Britain. They just got a new Prime Minister: former foreign secretary and shaved muppet Boris Johnson.”
Colbert then roasted a speech in which Mr Johnson asked his audience whether they felt “daunted” by their current circumstances and perspectives for the future, telling them: “I don’t think you look remotely daunted to me.”
“He is the world’s worst cheerleader,” Colbert said of the new prime minister.
Show all 25 1 /25Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded Theresa May took part in her last PMQs
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded She received a standing ovation as she left. Members of her cabinet and ministers in attendance also handed in their resignations throughout the day including Philip Hammond and Rory Stewart
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded Theresa May emerged to give a speech outside 10 Downing street. "To serve as PM of the UK is the greatest honour - as I leave Downing Street, my final words are of sincere thanks." She pays tribute to her staff, the armed forces, and the NHS."
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded Before she continued with her speech, however, a protestor heckled "Stop Brexit", to which she said: "I think the answer to that is - I think not."
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded Her husband Philip stood beside her throughout her speech, as well as, one last wave goodbye
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded Theresa May leaves for Buckingham Palace to tender her resignation
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded She will do so during her audience with the Queen
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded 'Best for Britain' and 'Put it to the people' signs awaiting Theresa May's arrival at Buckingham palace
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded Theresa May leaves Buckingham Palace after handing in her resignation
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded Greenpeace protesters attempt to block Boris Johnson's car heading to Buckingham Palace
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded After the police moved them to one side, two of them ran alongside his car with a banner reading 'climate emergency'
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded A protester wearing a mask depicting Boris Johnson waits outside Buckingham Palace
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded Queen Elizabeth II welcomes newly elected leader of the Conservative party Boris Johnson during an audience in Buckingham Palace, where she invited him to become Prime Minister and form a new government
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded Larry the Cat walks past the podium as staff wait outside for the arrival of Boris Johnson
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded Boris Johnson, delivers his first speech outside Downing Street
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded His partner Carrie Symonds watched on as he spoke
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded Protesters let off smoke bombs at the gates outside 10 Downing Street after Boris Johnson's appointment
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded The new Prime Minister is welcomed into 10 Downing Street by staff
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded MPs who left the government: Mel Stride, Chris Grayling, James Brokenshire, David Lidington, David Gauke, Rory Stewart and Philip Hammond. (Bottom row left to right) Greg Clark, Damian Hinds, David Mundell, Penny Mordaunt, Liam Fox, Jeremy Hunt and Karen Bradley
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded Downing Street staff clapped Johnson through the hallways
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded Priti Patel, who was forced to resign from Theresa May’s government after revelations she had conducted secret meetings with the Israeli government, was brought back into the Cabinet by new prime minister Boris Johnson. Ms Patel, an ardent Leave campaigner will serve as home secretary, replacing Sajid Javid, who in turn will become Chancellor. Ms Patel also famously called for the return of capital punishment as a “deterrent” in 2011
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded An anti-Boris Johnson protest was organised in Russell Square on the day he become Prime Minister
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded Thousands took to the streets to voice their opinions on his appointment
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded Gavin Williamson, who was sacked from his defence role in May over suspicions he leaked details of Huawei discussions from the National Security Council, was made education secretary
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Prime Minister hand over: May out, Johnson in, how the day unfolded Esther McVey, James Cleverly, Alun Cairns, Gavin Williamson, Liz Truss, Sir Mark Sedwill, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Sajid Javid, Amber Rudd, Robert Jenrick, Alister Jack, Nicky Morgan and Rishi Sunak, Mark Spencer, Jacob Rees Mogg, Alok Sharma, Baroness Evans, Andrea Leadsom, Stephen Barclay, Michael Gove,hidden, hidden, Julian Smith, Geoffrey Cox and Oliver Dowden, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds his first Cabinet meeting at Downing Street
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The host then touched on an address by Donald Trump , in which the US president claimed people in the UK referred to Mr Johnson as “Britain Trump”.
“No, they don’t,” said Colbert as if responding to Mr Trump. “They don’t call him ‘Britain Trump’. They call him ‘British Trump’... America President.”
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Mr Johnson gave his first speech as prime minister on Wednesday, dedicating it to Brexit and vowing to negotiate a “new” and “better” deal.
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