Stephen Colbert has never shied away from sharp political humor, but his latest monologue took things to a whole new level. On Monday night’s broadcast, the late-night host unleashed one of his harshest takedowns yet, targeting Pete Hegseth with a barrage of biting jokes that left his audience gasping between bursts of laughter.

The moment that set the internet ablaze came when Colbert leaned into his desk, smirked, and declared, “Pete Hegseth is what happens when you give a five-star Yelp rating to a pile of garbage. In other words, a five-star douche.” The studio erupted, some audience members covering their mouths in shock while others doubled over in laughter. Clips of the line instantly spread across social media, racking up hundreds of thousands of views within hours.

But Colbert wasn’t finished. “This is a man who brags about not washing his hands because it’s ‘real American grit,’” he continued, referencing Hegseth’s infamous 2019 remark about not washing his hands for years. “Pete, buddy, there’s a difference between patriotism and pathogens.” The line drew a roar of approval from the crowd, and a chant of “Wash your hands!” broke out in the front rows.

Colbert then pushed the tone even darker, hinting at a deeper disdain. “When I look at Hegseth, I don’t just see a former Fox host,” he said, lowering his voice for effect. “I see every smug, self-satisfied frat guy who thinks shouting over people counts as having an argument. And I see someone who mistakes a paycheck for a purpose.” The crowd fell momentarily silent before exploding again into cheers.

The clash between the two men is not without history. Colbert has taken occasional swipes at Hegseth over the years, but never with such force. What sparked this latest tirade, according to staffers close to the show, was Hegseth’s recent mocking late-night comedy as “irrelevant noise for elites.” Colbert, who has built his reputation on puncturing political hypocrisy, clearly took the jab personally—and decided to fire back in spectacular fashion.

Online, reactions to Colbert’s outburst were swift and divided. Fans of the host flooded Twitter with praise. “Colbert just ended Hegseth’s career in under a minute,” one user wrote. Another added, “This is why Colbert still matters—he says what everyone else is thinking.” But conservative voices fired back, accusing the comedian of crossing the line. “This isn’t comedy,” one Hegseth supporter tweeted. “It’s just hatred dressed up as jokes.”

Hegseth himself has remained silent so far. However, insiders expect he will address the remarks on his own platform, perhaps escalating what already feels like a brewing feud. “This isn’t just a joke anymore,” one media analyst observed. “It’s a clash of brands—Colbert’s liberal satire versus Hegseth’s conservative swagger.”

By the end of the segment, Colbert seemed to relish the moment, shrugging as the applause died down. “Hey, if Pete doesn’t like it,” he quipped, “he can always wash his hands of me. Oh wait—he doesn’t do that.” The punchline brought the house down, closing a monologue that many fans are already calling one of Colbert’s most savage in years.

For now, the fallout is still unfolding. Whether Hegseth fires back or lets the storm pass, one thing is clear: Colbert has drawn a bold line, and in doing so, he’s reignited one of the most talked-about rivalries between late-night comedy and conservative media.