Here’s What Stephen Colbert Says Is Donald Trump’s ‘Saving Grace’

Stephen Colbert has made a living making jokes at Donald Trump’s expense, but he has recently admitted that one good thing has come out of billionaire’s candidacy: it reveals the power of the voters.

In a clip released on Wednesday, the late-night show host tells CBS News John Dickerson that while he personally finds Trump’s views distasteful, he is encouraged by the fact that despite party elders wanting Trump out of the game, the people have “have decided that he is not going to” leave.

“I may disagree with anything that he’s saying and think that his proposals are a little…well, more than a little shocking,” said Colbert on Face the Nation. “But there is something really hopeful about the fact that, well, 36 percent of the likely voters want him so the people in the machine don’t get to say otherwise. That’s the one saving grace, I think, of his candidacy.”

In the interview, which will air Sunday, Colbert also praised Trump’s “very appealing” brand of populism. “What I do respect is that he knows it is an emotional appeal,” Colbert added in a clip . “And it might be emotional appeals that I can’t respect. But he knows that you have to appeal to the voter. And that’s why, I may be wrong – I made a big deal about there’s no way he’s gonna win.”