--- title: Stephen Colbert Drops Christmas Carol Warning on Trump description: Stephen Colbert is kicking off the holiday season in the only way he knows how these days — by taking some shots at President Donald Trump. canonical: https://time.com/5466802/colbert-on-mueller/ author: Megan McCluskey article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-11-29T15:49:54.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-13T08:16:08.746Z og:title: Stephen Colbert Drops Christmas Carol Warning on Trump og:description: With a classic rendition of 'Mueller Claus Is Coming to Town' og:url: https://time.com/5466802/colbert-on-mueller/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb8a1a838fb745d06/6989403486f68eda9e6ead34/screen-shot-2018-11-29-at-10-14-46-am.png?branch=production&width=1104&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1104 og:image:height: 621 og:image:alt: Stephen-Colbert-Trump-Christmas-Carol og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Stephen Colbert Drops Christmas Carol Warning on Trump twitter:description: With a classic rendition of 'Mueller Claus Is Coming to Town' twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb8a1a838fb745d06/6989403486f68eda9e6ead34/screen-shot-2018-11-29-at-10-14-46-am.png?branch=production&width=1104&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 'Mueller Claus Is Comin' to Town.' Stephen Colbert Drops a Christmas Warning on Trump > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. Senior correspondent Philip Elliott brings sharp context to the issues driving the capital, connecting the decisions made in Washington to the institutions, industries and people they affect. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=f1537799-73e1-4c93-8e6d-1753f8dfead1&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Robert Mueller Accuses Paul Manafort of Lying and Breaking His Plea Agreement [Watch (HLS stream): Robert Mueller Accuses Paul Manafort of Lying and Breaking His Plea Agreement](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/OmzzAOB2.m3u8) (0:49)  _Published 2018-11-27. Special counsel Robert Mueller is accusing former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort of lying to federal investigators in the Russia probe in breach of his plea agreement._  by [Megan McCluskey](https://time.com/author/megan-mccluskey/)  ## Megan McCluskey Staff Writer Nov 29, 2018 3:49 PM UTC Special counsel Robert Mueller is accusing former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort of lying to federal investigators in the Russia probe in breach of his plea agreement.  by [Megan McCluskey](https://time.com/author/megan-mccluskey/)  ## Megan McCluskey Staff Writer Nov 29, 2018 3:49 PM UTC [Stephen Colbert](http://time.com/5456934/stephen-colbert-trump-worn-down/) is kicking off the [holiday season](http://time.com/5454985/white-house-christmas-2018/) in what seems to be the only way he knows how these days — by taking some shots at [President Donald Trump](http://time.com/5466034/trump-pardon-manafort/). During Wednesday’s episode of _The Late Show_, the host welcomed viewers back following a Thanksgiving hiatus by performing a Trump-inspired cover of “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town.” Colbert explained that the political carol, dubbed “Mueller Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” was intended to send a message to the President about what’s in store for him as special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation kicks into “high gear.” “He sees you when you’re tweeting, he knows your hair is fake,” Colbert sang. “He knows when you’ve been bad or bad because you’re bad for goodness sake. You’re bad!” Colbert then launched into a detailed breakdown of the [controversy surrounding Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort.](http://time.com/5464153/robert-mueller-accusing-paul-manafort-lying/) Watch the full clip below. ## Transcript [00:00] [ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] Manafort, who plead guilty in [00:00] September, is denying that he lied. Manafort faces multiple [00:00] years in prison and remains jailed while awaiting his [00:00] sentence. Manafort faces multiple years in prison and [00:00] remains jailed while awaiting his sentence. Prosecutors [00:01] are now asking a federal judge to set a date to sentence [00:04] him. [ MUSIC ] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5466802/colbert-on-mueller/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5466802/colbert-on-mueller/"},"headline":"'Mueller Claus Is Comin' to Town.' 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