Actress Laura Benanti returned to “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on Monday, October 20, 2025, reprising her popular impersonation of First Lady Melania Trump in a segment that skewered the Trump administration with sharp political humor.
The Broadway veteran, who has portrayed Melania Trump on the late-night show since 2016, appeared as the faux first lady in a remote interview that targeted President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and even touched on the infamous hat Melania wore while meeting Britain’s King Charles III.
Host Colbert initiated the conversation by asking about a proposal to rename the Kennedy Center’s opera house in honor of the first lady. The fake Melania responded that it was such an honor and she could not wait to change her name to Melania Kennedy, demonstrating the character’s signature deadpan delivery.
The segment took an unexpected turn when Colbert steered the discussion toward Jeffrey Epstein, the late sex offender who was once connected to Donald Trump. At that moment, the fake Melania suddenly claimed to be experiencing technical difficulties and promptly disappeared from the screen.
Colbert told her that she could not suddenly disappear when things get uncomfortable. Benanti’s character replied, “Oh, yes, I can, Stephen,” before being beamed off the screen entirely.
The host exclaimed in disbelief that she actually did it, highlighting the comedic timing that has made Benanti’s Melania impression a crowd favorite over the years.
Benanti, a Tony Award winner who graduated from Kinnelon High School in New Jersey, has built an extensive career in theater, television, and film. Her 2008 performance in Gypsy earned her the Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, and she has accumulated multiple Tony and Drama Desk honors throughout her career.
Recent screen appearances include roles in No Hard Feelings, The Gilded Age, and Elsbeth. The 46-year-old actress has also appeared on Life & Beth and continues to maintain a robust presence in both stage and screen productions.
This October appearance was not Benanti’s first return to the Melania Trump character in 2025. She previously appeared on “The Late Show” in early March to preview the president’s joint address to Congress, introducing what she called Melania 2.0.
In that earlier March appearance, the fake first lady discussed splitting her time between Mar-a-Lago, the White House, and Camp David, explaining that Camp David was when she imagined camping with David Beckham. She also joked about having a great talk with Elon Musk about eliminating federal jobs, hopefully starting with first lady.
The March segment also addressed the changing public perception of Melania Trump. While the general public showed some sympathy during the first Trump administration, that sentiment appeared to have diminished by 2025. The character acknowledged using supporters for financial gain, noting that their money was just a gift and delivering a wordplay about the spelling of grift and gift.
Benanti’s portrayal has consistently captured the first lady’s distinctive accent, mannerisms, and public persona, making it one of the show’s most memorable recurring sketches. The actress begins each appearance with the signature greeting that it is a pleasure for the host to see her again.
The comedic impersonation comes amid Benanti’s active career, though her personal life has occasionally intersected with controversy. In December 2024, she publicly criticized former costar Zachary Levi on a podcast, stating she never liked him and took issue with his politicization of their fellow cast member Gavin Creel’s death. The two had worked together in a 2016 Broadway revival of She Loves Me.
Benanti, who was born on July 15, 1979, grew up in New Jersey and has maintained connections to the area throughout her career. Her hometown recognition includes being listed among Morris County’s most famous residents alongside other notable figures with local ties.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs weekdays at 11:35 p.m. ET on CBS before streaming on Paramount+.
