MY NEXT GUEST WENT FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO THE "BIG BROTHER"
HOUSE, AND MANAGED TO MAKE IT OUT OF BOTH OF THEM ALIVE.
PLEASE WELCOME OMAROSA.
♪ ♪ ♪
>> Stephen: WELCOME TO THE SHOW.
>> GLAD TO BE HERE.
>> Stephen: YOU'RE NO STRANGER TO CBS, HAVING JUST LEFT THE
"BIG BROTHER" HOUSE.
>> JUST 48 HOURS AGO.
I HAD NOT SEEN SUN FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH IN THE "BIG BROTHER"
HOUSE.
>> Stephen: YOU WERE TRAPPED IN THE HOUSE WITH HOW MANY OTHER
PEOPLE?
>> THERE WERE 10 OTHER PEOPLE.
>> Stephen: 10 OTHER PEOPLE, YOU DID NOT SEE SUN FOR A MONTH.
DID THAT SAME CRAZIER OR WORKING FOR THE WHITE HOUSE?
>> I THINK WORKING FOR THE WHITE HOUSE WAS A LITTLE CRAZIER.
>> Stephen: YOU SAID THIS ON "BIG BROTHER" WHEN YOU WERE
ASKED ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE.
JIM, YOU GOT THIS.
>> I WAS HAUNTED BY HIS TWEETS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
LIKE WHAT IS HE GOING TO TWEET NEXT.
>> SHOULD WE BE WORRIED?
>> YES.
>> DON'T SAY THAT, BECAUSE WE ARE WORRIED, BUT I NEED YOU TO
SAY, NO, IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY.
NO, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE OKAY.
IT'S NOT.
>> WOW, THAT'S -- >> Stephen: THAT'S THE FIRST
TIME YOU'RE SEEING IT?
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: I'VE WATCHED IT MANY TIMES.
>> HAVE YOU?
( LAUGHTER ).
>> Stephen: I SEE IT WHEN MY EYEEYES ARE CLOSED, AND IT HAUNT
ME.
IT HAUNTS ME AT NIGHT.
>> BEST PART ABOUT BEING IN THE HOUSE WAS THERE WAS NO TWITTER
FOR 30 DAYS, AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD BEEN AWAY FROM
TWITTER SINCE I JOINED THE CAMPAIGN IN 2015.
SO IT WAS ACTUALLY A GREAT REPRIEVE.
>> Stephen: OKAY, SO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE OKAY.
IT'S NOT.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE -- >> Stephen: AND WAS THAT A
JOKE?
BECAUSE YOU'RE LAUGHING ABOUT IT, BUT HE'S CHILLED, AND I'M
CHILLED BY WATCHING IT, BECAUSE YOU KNOW DONALD TRUMP.
YOU WERE IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
UPPER CLOSE TO THE EVENTS THAT WERE HAPPENING.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S NOT GOING TO BE OKAY?
>> I'M GLAD YOU ASKED.
BECAUSE THAT WAS PART OF A BIGGER CONVERSATION ABOUT
IMMIGRATION AND ROUND-UPS AND PARTICULARLY WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT A FAMILY OF A MAN WHO HAD BEEN IN THE COUNTRY FOR 30 YEARS
AND HAD BEEN SENT BACK.
AND ROSS WAS EXPRESSING HIS CONCERN ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING
WITH IMMIGRATION.
SO THAT WAS PART OF A BIGGER DISCUSSION.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THE IMMIGRATION DEBATE WILL
CONTINUE, AND IT'S-- IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT AND COMPLICATED
SUBJECT.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT CAN BE RESOLVED SO SIMPLY, AND THAT
WAS A PART DISCUSSION, AND THAT'S WHY I WAS A BET
EMOTIONAL.
BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH HAITIANS, EL SALVADOR, WHAT'S
HAPPENING WITH A LOT OF IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE BEING PUT OUT
OF THIS COUNTRY WITHOUT BEING GIVEN THE CONSIDERATION THAT
THIS NATION IS A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS, AND THAT WE SHOULD
HAVE COMPASSION, PARTICULARLY WITH DREAMERS.
SO THAT CAME FROM A BIGGER DISCUSSION.
>> Stephen: SO WHEN YOU SAY YOU DON'T THINK EVERYTHING IS
GOING TO BE OKAY.
>> IT'S NOT YOU.
>> Stephen: MEAN IT'S NOT GOING TO BE OKAY FOR THE DACA
KIDS.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE OKAY FOR IMMIGRANTS OR FOR THE REST US,
WE'RE GOING-- >> WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
MAKE IT OKAY.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT OKAY.
AND I DON'T WANT 15 SECONDS ON A REALITY SHOW TO ENCAPSULATE SUCH
A SERIOUS TOPIC.
>> Stephen: I'LL ASK YOU AGAIN.
IS IT GOING-- IS EVERYTHING GOING TO BE OKAY UNDER DONALD
TRUMP?
>> WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.
>> Audience: OOOOH!
>> Stephen: SO-- >> YEAH, SUSPENSE.
>> Stephen: THAT'S NOT A MESSAGE OF-- THAT IS NOT A
MESSAGE OF HOPE.
I WANT TO REMIND YOU.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT'S ANY SECRET THAT I DON'T HAVE THE
GREATEST TRUST IN OUR LEADERSHIP RIGHT NOW?
>> YOU DON'T?
>> Stephen: I DON'T.
I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TRUST.
BUT DO YOU, BECAUSE YOU HAVE SAID--
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) YOU-- I MEAN, YOU HAVE-- YOU
HAVE SAID-- YOU SAID WE SHOULD BE WORRIED.
YOU WERE HAUNTED BY THE TWEETS.
WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THE TWEETS THAT HAUNTED YOU?
WHAT SURPRISED YOU?
BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WERE SAID WHILE YOU
WERE THERE.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE TWEETS THAT SPECIFICALLY HAUNTED YOU?
>> YOU KNOW, HE ANNOUNCED MAJOR POLICY ISSUES ON TWITTER-- THE
TRANSGENDER BAN, FOR INSTANCE, WAS ANNOUNCED ON TWITTER.
>>> Stephen: I REMEMBER.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S-- YOU KNOW, FOR SOMEONE WHO IS IN
COMMUNICATIONS, LIKE HOPE AND MYSELF, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT A
PLACE YOU WANT TO FIND OUT AT 5:00 IN THE MORNING ABOUT
SOMETHING THAT WOULD IMPACT SO MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES.
YOU WANT TO FIND OUT IN A POLICY BRIEFING THERE THE DIRECTOR OF
DOMESTIC POLICY ABOUT THOSE ISSUES.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE SUBSEQUENT FOLLOW-UP FOR IT.
NOT ON TWITTER.
>> Stephen: SO DOES THAT AFFECT YOUR OPINION OF DONALD
TRUMP?
DOES THAT MAKE YOU DOUBT WHETHER HE SHOULD BE THE MOST POWERFUL
MAN IN THE WORLD?
>> LOOK, DONALD TRUMP WAS MY FRIEND FOR 15 YEARS.
>> Stephen: HE FIRED YOU FOUR TIMES!
( LAUGHTER ) >> AND IT'S-- IT'S LANDED ME
HERE ON "THE LATE SHOW" WITH STEPHEN COLBERT."
SO I'M DOING OKAY!
( APPLAUSE ) BUT HE WAS MY FRIEND.
AND WATCHING HIM IN THIS POSITION, YOU KNOW, HAS CAUSED
ME TO, YOU KNOW, BE EXCITED SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES BE VERY,
VERY CONCERNED.
AND I THINK IF YOUR BEST FRIEND, IF YOU WOKE UP AND YOUR BEST
FRIEND WAS PRESIDENT TOMORROW, YOU WOULD HAVE THAT SAME RANGE
OF EMOTIONS.
>> Stephen: IF MY BEST FRIEND WAS PRESIDENT TOMORROW, I'D FEEL
BETTER.
( LAUGHTER ) ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
>> GOOD ONE!
>> Stephen: BECAUSE, BECAUSE, SHE IS WAY SMARTER THAN I AM.
NOW, LET ME JUST READ A FEW THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED.
JUST-- MAYBE JUST RAISE YOUR HAND-- RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU
THINK HE SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THEM.
>> WELL, I SHOULD START NOW, BECAUSE MOST OF THEM HE
SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE.
>> Stephen: THINGS THAT YOU-- THAT MAYBE IN RETROSPECT YOU GO,
"MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE LEFT WHEN THAT HAPPENED."
"GRAB THEM BY THE PUSSY."
>> THAT'S BEFORE WE WENT-- ARE YOU ALL RAISING YOUR HANDS.
I SEE A BUNCH OF-- THE WHOLE AUDIENCE RAISED THEIR HAND.
>> Stephen: YOU WORKED FOR HIM.
YOU WORKED FOR THE CAMPAIGN.
>> I'M GLAD YOU ASKED ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE AT THE TIME THAT
THAT HAPPENED WE WERE ON A WOMAN'S TOUR.
I WAS TRAVELING WITH HIS DAUGHTER-IN-LAW IN NORTH
CAROLINA.
AND IT WAS-- IT WAS LIKE A GUT PUNCH.
IT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST -- >> Stephen: A LITTLE LOW.
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
>> Stephen: HOW ABOUT CHARLOTTESVILLE.
HOW ABOUT CHARLOTTESVILLE "BLAME ON BOTH SIDES.
FINE PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES."
>> KEEP READING THE WHOLE LIST AND I'LL GIVE YOU THE
ASSESSMENT.
>> Stephen: DEFEND ROY MOORE.
MEXICANS AS RAPISTS.
PICKING A FIGHT WITH JOHN LEWIS.
THROWING PAPER TOWEL AS THE HURRICANE VICTIMS OF PUERTO
RICO.
THE MUSLIM BAN, AND ATTACKING JUDGE CURIEL FOR BEING MEXICAN.
>> AWFUL, AWFUL, UNACCEPTABLE, AWFUL, AWFUL, AWFUL, AWFUL,
UNACCEPTABLE, UNEQUIVOCALLY UNACCEPTABLE, AWFUL.
>> Stephen: AND YOU WORK FOR THAT MAN.
>> NO, I DON'T WORK FOR HIM ANYMORE.
( APPLAUSE ) NO, I DON'T.
I DON'T-- I DON'T WORK FOR HIM.
NOR DO I REGRET TRYING TO BE A VOICE OF REASON AT THE TABLE.
>> Stephen: BUT YOU SAID-- >> AND TRY TO BE THE CHANGE.
>> Stephen: YOU ALSO SAID, "LEAVING THE WHITE HOUSE FELT
LIKE FREED FROM A PLANTATION."
>> Audience: OOOH!
>> Stephen: YOU SAID THIS.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
THAT HAS CERTAINLY DISTURBING RESONANCE FOR ME AND I'M NOT AN
AFRICAN AMERICAN.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU?
>> YOU KNOW, THE WHITE HOUSE I WORKED IN, THAT TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION WAS-- IT WAS TROUBLING.
AND IT WAS-- IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT.
AND MY ANALOGY OF IT BEING A PLANTATION MEANING AN ECOSYSTEM
WHERE PEOPLE FEEL OPPRESSED IS PRETTY CLEAR.
WHEN YOU AREN'T ALLOWED TO DO THE JOB THAT YOU WERE BROUGHT TO
DO, TO HELP BE A CHANGE AGENT, TO HELP BE THE LIAISON FOR
COMMUNITIES THAT NEEDED THAT ASSISTANCE, THAT'S WHERE THAT
OPPRESSION COMES FROM.
AND THAT'S WHAT THAT ANALOGY MEANT, STEVE GLEN SO IT WAS
EVERYONE THERE WOULD FEEL THAT WAY, IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IF
THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THEIR JOB.
>> AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN THEY MAY HAVE.
I WAS SPEAKING FOR MYSELF.
I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERYONE IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
I WAS SPEAKING FOR HOW I FELT AS THE ONLY AFRICAN AMERICAN SENIOR
ADVISER TO PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.
>> Stephen: OKAY.
WELL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TALKING TO US ABOUT YOUR TIME AT THE
WHITE HOUSE, BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT.
IT IS TROUBLING.
PEOPLE ARE WORRIED THAT THEY ARE AFRAID THINGS AREN'T GOING TO BE
OKAY.
THANKS FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS.
AND I WANT TO OFFER YOU A LITTLE GIFT.
>> THIN MINTS!
>> Stephen: WILL YOU ACCEPT THESE THIN MINTS FROM ME.
>> YES, THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> Stephen: OMAROSA, EVERYBODY!