--- title: Stephen Colbert Is On the Case of the Anonymous Op-Ed description: The 'Late Show' host is pretty confused about why any White House insider would agree to publish the muckraking anonymous opinion piece. canonical: https://time.com/5389879/colbert-anonymous-oped/ author: Raisa Bruner article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-09-07T15:14:06.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-13T07:53:32.471Z og:title: Stephen Colbert Is On the Case of the Anonymous Op-Ed og:description: The 'Late Show' host has an idea about who wrote the eyebrow-raising piece og:url: https://time.com/5389879/colbert-anonymous-oped/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3bd0ee3cce091b4c/698939af8fd2ee37ee35c91d/stephen-colbert-op-ed.png?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1671 og:image:height: 940 og:image:alt: stephen-colbert-op-ed og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Stephen Colbert Is On the Case of the Anonymous Op-Ed twitter:description: The 'Late Show' host has an idea about who wrote the eyebrow-raising piece twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3bd0ee3cce091b4c/698939af8fd2ee37ee35c91d/stephen-colbert-op-ed.png?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Stephen Colbert Is On the Case of That 'Confusing' Anonymous Op-Ed > Sponsored content. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=caa162e8-8c4a-4c8a-8d4e-05303ed21593&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: These Trump Administration Officials Deny Writing the Anonymous New York Times Op-Ed [Watch (HLS stream): These Trump Administration Officials Deny Writing the Anonymous New York Times Op-Ed](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/EgrtVFUM.m3u8) (1:19)  _Published 2018-09-06. Several members of President Donald Trump’s administration have denied writing an anonymous New York Times op-ed that criticizes Trump, as people speculate over who could be behind the article._  by [Raisa Bruner](https://time.com/author/raisa-bruner/)  ## Raisa Bruner Sep 7, 2018 3:14 PM UTC  by [Raisa Bruner](https://time.com/author/raisa-bruner/)  ## Raisa Bruner Sep 7, 2018 3:14 PM UTC After the _New York Times_ published an [anonymous op-ed](http://time.com/5389795/donald-trump-new-york-times-op-ed-virtually-treason/) written by a White House insider stating there’s a secret resistance working against Donald Trump from within, most news sources are calling the piece “explosive.” But _Late Show_ host [Stephen Colbert](http://time.com/5387403/stephen-colbert-kavanaugh/) has a different word to describe the piece: “confusing.” “Because if you’re inside the White House pretending to be loyal to the president but secretly thwarting the president to protect the rest of us from him, why would you tell us?” Colbert asked of his audience during his opening monologue on Thursday night. The mystery writer suggested that there are some in the administration committed to tempering Trump’s behaviors. Colbert’s response? That it’s definitely a tough job, “because all of Trump’s inclinations are tied for worst.” “Now the hunt for the author is on,” he continued, pointing out Vice President Mike Pence as a [potential frontrunner](http://time.com/5388483/mike-pence-denies-writing-anonymous-op-ed/) thanks to his unusual favoring of the word “lodestar,” which also appeared in the published piece. (Pence has denied writing the story.) “It has launched a frantic guessing game. As opposed to the other games: there’s [collusional chairs](http://time.com/5361925/donald-trump-collusion-manafort-giuliani-mueller-russia/), charade of a [marriage](http://time.com/5371920/melania-trump-social-media-donald-trump-insults/) and pin the crime on the [Don, Jr,”](http://time.com/5358183/president-trump-don-jr-russia/) he joked. As for Trump’s defense — tweeting about “treason” and calling upon North Korean leader [Kim Jong Un](http://time.com/5388503/kim-jong-un-still-likes-donald-trump/) as a character witness? “You can’t have a murderous dictator vouch for you!” Well said, Colbert. ## Transcript Well I think it's a disgrace. The anonymous editorial published in the New York Times represents a new low in American journalism. And I think the New York Times should be ashamed. And I think whoever wrote this anonymous editorial should also be ashamed as well. Anyone who would write an anonymous editorial smearing this President who's provided extraordinary leadership to this country should not be working for this administration. They ought to do the honorable thing and they ought to resign. Mr. McGahan did you write that op- ed? No. I come from a place where if you're not in a position to execute the commanders until you have a singular option. and it's to leave. This person said, according to the New York Times chose not only to stay but to undermine what President Trump and this adminstration are trying to do and I have to tell you, I just find the media's efforts in this regards to undermine this adminstration incredibility disturbing. [ UNKNOWN ] And I'll answer your other question directly because I know someone will say, gosh, he didn't answer the question. 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