STEVE COMES ‘CLEAN’

Only regret: vulgarity

Stephen Colbert refused to back down on Wednesday in the face of criticism over his profanity-packed tirade against President Trump earlier in the week — although he admitted he wished his had chosen his words more carefully.

“I had a few choice insults for the president. I don’t regret that,” Colbert said about his CBS “Late Show” rant Monday night.

“He, I believe, can take care of himself. I have jokes; he has the launch codes. So, it’s a fair fight,” he quipped.

Colbert did say, however, that in retrospect, he would have changed a few words that were “cruder than they needed to be.”

He most likely was referring to a joke about Trump’s mouth serving as a “c--k holster” for Russian strongman Vladimir Putin.

The comic did not apologize, but addressed those who had characterized it as a homophobic slur:

“I’m not going to repeat the phrase, but I just want to say for the record: Life is short, and anyone who expresses their love for another person, in their own way, is to me, an American hero.

“I think we can all agree on that. I hope even the president and I can agree on that. Nothing else. But, that.”

The Monday zingers spurred a top-trending #Fire- Colbert hashtag, and he quipped at the top of Wednesday’s show, “I am still the host? I’m still the host!”

The feud was precipitated by a dust-up at the beginning of the week between Trump and respected CBS newsman John Dickerson.

Trump abruptly ended an interview with Dickerson when the “Face the Nation” moderator pressed him on his unverified claim that President Barack Obama had wiretapped Trump Tower. Trump stalked away.

Trump had also slammed Dickerson’s show as “fake news” and mockingly dubbed it “Deface the Nation.”

Colbert said Wednesday, “I was a little upset at Donald Trump for insulting a friend of mine.”

Meanwhile, Colbert will host a “Daily Show” reunion next week — including guest appearances by Jon Stewart, Samantha Bee, John Oliver, Ed Helms and Rob Corddry.