Senator James Lankford Agrees With Stephen Colbert

Oklahoma Senator James Lankford kept his sense of humor when questioned on CBS This Morning Wednesday, March 21. Lankford is part of the Senate Intelligence Committee holding hearings on Russian interference in the 2016 election.

He and other committee members had just left a hearing about the ongoing threat to U.S. elections when they were asked about President Donald Trump's call to congratulate President Vladimir Putin on his recent victory.

Lankford was front and center as the bipartisan committee members were asked about the call. He was silent for a few moments, then closed his eyes and shook his head.

Colbert played the video on the Colbert Late Show, having a little fun at Lankford's expense. Colbert joked that Lankford had no response but wished for a smoke bomb to hide from the press.

"None of us had heard that the president had called and congratulated Putin," Lankford said. "Stephen Colbert was correct. If I'd had a smoke bomb, I would have used it.

In other questions, the senator noted that President Barack Obama had also called Putin to congratulate him on his previous victory.

"Russia has not been our friend for a very long time," he said.

"Presidents say what presidents choose to say, but they also need to understand they carry the weight of the entire U.S. so I would hope every president is careful in what they say," Lankford said, commenting on the report that President Trump ignored advisors' warning not to congratulate Putin.