When people talk about the 2009 DreamWorks hit, they usually mention Susan’s growth spurt or B.O.B.’s lack of a brain. But honestly? The real star for a lot of us was the president from Monsters vs Aliens. President Hathaway is this perfect storm of satire, absurdity, and genuine comedic timing that only someone like Stephen Colbert could pull off.
Think back to that first contact scene. He doesn’t come with a high-tech translator or a team of Nobel-winning linguists. Nope. He walks up a ridiculously long flight of stairs, settles behind a synthesizer, and starts playing "Axel F" from Beverly Hills Cop. It is peak 2000s animation humor. It's awkward. It's cringey. It's exactly how we’d expect a cartoon politician to handle an intergalactic crisis.
Who is President Hathaway?
Basically, President Hathaway is the "impulsive and dimwitted" leader of the United States. He’s the guy who has two massive red buttons on his desk—one for coffee and one to launch a nuclear missile strike. And, of course, he can’t remember which is which.
The character was voiced by Stephen Colbert, who was at the height of his Colbert Report fame at the time. You can hear that "confidently wrong" energy in every line. He’s not a villain, but he’s definitely not a hero. He’s just a guy who is deeply concerned about his legacy and really, really doesn’t want to be the "President in office when the world came to an end."
That fear drives every decision he makes. When the giant alien robot lands, his first instinct is to try and look cool. When that fails, he immediately switches to "Commander! Do something violent!" It’s a hilarious jab at the shoot-first-ask-questions-later trope in sci-fi movies.
✨ Don't miss: Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett: Why Fans Are Still Divided Over the Daimyo of Tatooine
That Iconic Keyboard Scene Explained
We have to talk about the keyboard. If you search for the president from Monsters vs Aliens, this is the scene that pops up 90% of the time.
The President attempts "peaceful communication" by playing the five-tone motif from Close Encounters of the Third Kind. When the alien robot doesn't respond, he just... starts jamming. He breaks into the Harold Faltermeyer classic, doing one-handed keyboard riffs and waving to the "crowd" like a rock star.
It’s such a specific choice of song. "Axel F" is the ultimate 80s synth-pop track, and seeing a world leader use it to greet a 100-foot-tall death machine is pure gold. It perfectly encapsulates the movie's vibe: taking the end of the world and making it sorta ridiculous.
The "Code Brown" Moment
There’s a specific line that gets quoted constantly. After the alien robot rejects his musical advances and starts a rampage, Hathaway turns to his generals and says, "Okay, someone set the terror level to Code Brown, because I need to change my pants!"
🔗 Read more: Why Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Actors Still Define the Modern Spy Thriller
It’s a bit of a crude joke for a PG movie, but it lands because it feels so human. Most movie presidents are these stoic, brave figures who give inspiring speeches. Hathaway is the opposite. He’s terrified, he’s confused, and he’s remarkably honest about his own cowardice.
Why the Character Still Works in 2026
It’s been over fifteen years since the movie came out, yet the president from Monsters vs Aliens remains a meme staple. Part of that is the animation. DreamWorks did a great job with his facial expressions—the way his eyes dart around and that smug, "I have no idea what I'm doing" grin.
But there’s also the E-E-A-T factor of the voice acting. Stephen Colbert didn't just read lines; he brought a specific persona. If you’ve ever seen his old "better know a district" segments, you can see the DNA of President Hathaway in there. It’s that blend of arrogance and incompetence that feels weirdly timeless.
Also, let's look at the "big red button" gag. It's a classic comedy trope, but the movie adds a layer to it. When Hathaway asks, "Which idiot designed this thing?" and the advisor replies, "That would be you, sir," it tells you everything you need to know about his administration. He’s a man who creates his own problems and then blames everyone else for them.
💡 You might also like: The Entire History of You: What Most People Get Wrong About the Grain
Practical Takeaways from the President's Strategy
While we shouldn't look to President Hathaway for actual political advice, there are some "expert" takeaways from his character arc in the film:
- Delegation is Key: He knows he can’t fight aliens. So, he listens to General Monger (eventually) and lets the monsters take the lead. Knowing when to step back is a rare trait for a cartoon president.
- Optics Matter: He spends more time worrying about how he looks on camera than the actual invasion. In the world of Monsters vs Aliens, the "image" of being a brave president is almost as important as actually being one.
- Keep it Simple: When in doubt, play 80s synth-pop. It might not stop an alien invasion, but it’ll definitely make the history books interesting.
If you’re revisiting the movie, pay close attention to the background details in the War Room. The sheer amount of useless tech and the "Panic Meter" that Hathaway constantly messes with are great examples of the movie's visual storytelling.
Ultimately, the president from Monsters vs Aliens works because he’s a parody of every "Crisis President" we’ve ever seen. He’s not there to save the day; he’s there to make us laugh while the actual monsters (and Susan) do the heavy lifting. He’s a reminder that even in the face of total annihilation, humans (and their leaders) will still find a way to be incredibly silly.
To get the most out of this character's history, you should check out the mid-credits scene where he promotes General Monger. It’s a short bit, but it shows the weirdly wholesome (if still incompetent) bond between the two characters. You can also find clips of the Nickelodeon spin-off series, though James Patrick Stuart takes over the voice there, giving the character a slightly different but equally chaotic energy.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch the "First Contact" scene on YouTube to appreciate the synth-pop choreography.
- Compare Hathaway's leadership style to other animated leaders, like Mayor West from Family Guy, to see the influence of 2000s "bumbling authority" tropes.
- Look for the hidden Easter eggs in the War Room scenes, specifically the labels on the various buttons and monitors.