"The Late Show" host Stephen Colbert stands by his recent monologue taking shots at President Trump, only wishing he hadn't used a crude joke that some viewers found homophobic.

Colbert's monologue from Monday night -- titled "This Monologue Goes Out To You, Mr. President" -- has nearly 4 million views on YouTube. In it, he rails against Trump for insulting CBS News reporter John Dickerson. Here's the phrase Colbert now wishes he could change: "The only thing your mouth is good for is being Vladimir Putin's c–k holster."

That led critics to launch the hashtag #FireColbert, and the host addressed the backlash at the start of last night's show:

"Welcome to 'The Late Show.' I'm your host, Stephen Colbert.

Still? I am still the host?

I'm still the host!!

Now, folks, if you saw my monologue Monday, you know that I was a little upset with Donald Trump for insulting a friend of mine. So at the end of that monologue I had a few choice insults for the president in return. I don't regret that. He, I believe, can take care of himself. I have jokes; he has the launch codes. So, it's a fair fight.

So while I would do it again, I would change a few words that were cruder than they needed to be. Now, 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."

Watch Monday's monologue:

And here's Wednesday's monologue:

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