Is Donald Trump a Moron? Stephen Colbert Has President Battle Rex Tillerson in the Thunderdome

10_14_Rex Tillerson
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at the State Department, in Washington, U.S., October 13. Tillerson reportedly called Trump a "moron." Mike Theiler/Reuters

Who is the bigger moron, Donald Trump or Rex Tillerson? Stephen Colbert thinks he knows the best way to find out: have the two face off in the Thunderdome.

A sketch aired on Colbert's Late Show Friday night in which he pitted Tillerson against Trump in the cage-encased battle arena from the Mad Max movie series.

Inspired by Trump's offer of an IQ test faceoff with Tillerson after the secretary of state reportedly called the President a "moron," the sketch featured a caped announcer introducing the battle between the "tenacious Texan" and the "Manhattan Moron."

The pair—edited into the scene via archive broadcast footage of their speeches and press appearances—were asked to answer one simple question: "What is the name of the invisible force that holds us to the Earth?"

Both men obfuscate. First, Trump says that "people still don't know all the facts." The question passes to Tillerson, who says he won't "deal with petty stuff like that." Back to Trump: "When I make a statement, I like to be correct," the President says, unhelpfully.

"In order for us to assess your intelligence, you need to at least attempt to answer the question," the announcer says with mounting frustration. But it's no good. Tillerson's final attempt runs: "I have answered that question repeatedly… I do not, and I will not operate that way."

The announcer's conclusion: "Both are morons—but more importantly, we're all screwed." The scene ends with assorted nuclear mutants chanting: "Both are morons! We're all screwed!"

It's not the first time the Late Show has referenced the Thunderdome. Back in June, Colbert parodied the media circus around former FBI director James Comey's appearance before the Senate Intelligence Committee with a skit called James Comey Enters the Thunderdome that promised, "ground-stomping, heart-pounding testimonial mayhem."

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