President Trump lashed out at late-night host Stephen Colbert early Tuesday morning following a CBS rerun of The Late Show, renewing his long-standing criticism of network television and calling on CBS to pull Colbert’s already canceled program immediately.
The remarks came after CBS aired a December 8th episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as a rerun on December 23rd. The episode included monologue jokes targeting President Trump’s recent involvement with the Kennedy Center Honors, an event Trump hosted earlier this month.
U.S. President Donald Trump sits for an interview with ABC News – YouTube, ABC News
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In a post on Truth Social published shortly after midnight, the president sharply criticized Colbert’s performance and the state of late-night television.
“Stephen Colbert is a pathetic trainwreck, with no talent or anything else necessary for show business success,” Trump wrote. “Now, after being terminated by CBS, but left out to dry, he has actually gotten worse, along with his nonexistent ratings.”
Trump Calls on CBS to End Colbert’s Show Immediately
President Trump escalated his comments minutes later, urging CBS to take further action against the long-running late-night program.
“Stephen is running on hatred and fumes — A dead man walking,” the president said. “CBS should, ‘put him to sleep,’ NOW, it is the humanitarian thing to do!”
Stephen Colbert interviews Jimmy Kimmel – YouTube, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Trump followed up with a broader critique of the late-night television landscape across major networks.
“Who has the worst Late Night host, CBS, ABC, or NBC???” he asked. “They all have three things in common: High Salaries, No Talent, REALLY LOW RATINGS!”
The president has frequently argued that late-night television has become overtly political and hostile toward conservatives, a point he reiterated in another post.
Stephen Colbert at the 2025 Emmys accepts his award – YouTube, Television Academy
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“If Network NEWSCASTS, and their Late Night Shows, are almost 100% Negative to President Donald J. Trump, MAGA, and the Republican Party, shouldn’t their very valuable Broadcast Licenses be terminated?” he asked, before answering his own question. “I say, YES!”
Minutes later, Trump punctuated the series of posts with a final message: “MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!”
The CBS Rerun That Sparked the Reaction
The episode that triggered Trump’s response was a rerun originally broadcast on December 8th, featuring guests Sigourney Weaver and Mandy Patinkin. During that show’s monologue, Colbert mocked Trump’s role at the Kennedy Center Honors, drawing boos from the audience.
Stephen Colbert on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert – YouTube, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
“Yeah, I kind of agree,” Colbert said at the time. “It seems like the commander-in-chief shouldn’t have enough time to run a theater.”
Colbert also made light of Trump’s comments about hosting duties and late-night rivals, at one point joking:
“I don’t know how much effort I’m putting into the impression [of Trump] anymore,” he said. “And I don’t care… Fire me!”
‘The Late Show’ Cancellation Already Announced
CBS announced earlier this year that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will conclude in May 2026, a decision the network described as a financial one tied to the declining economics of late-night television. President Trump previously celebrated the announcement, posting that he “absolutely love[d] that Colbert got fired.”
Stephen Colbert on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert – YouTube, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
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Colbert responded days later on-air with a profanity-laced remark aimed directly at the president.
Despite the scheduled end date, Trump’s latest comments suggest he believes the show should be taken off the air immediately rather than allowed to run through its final season.
Renewed Debate Over Media Bias and Late-Night Television
The exchange illustrates the ongoing tension between President Trump and network late-night hosts, many of whom have made criticism of Trump a central feature of their monologues for years. Trump has consistently argued that such programming reflects institutional bias rather than comedy, while hosts like Colbert maintain that political satire is a core function of the genre.
Stephen Colbert on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert – YouTube, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
With The Late Show already nearing its end, Trump’s latest remarks appear to serve less as a demand for immediate action and more as a renewed indictment of what he sees as a broken and hostile media ecosystem.
Do you agree with Trump that Colbert should be booted from the air early? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
I’m the first to admit I voted for Trump in all three elections he was in. But this is not a good look. Colbert already literally begged for his show not to be cancelled; you can’t get much more pathetic than that. Let Stephen burn out on his own and live the rest of his life with that shame (if he had any). Attacking him like this is very New Yorker, I know, but sometimes the greatest insult is total silence about a foe’s situation.
trump’s been proven as a blowhard, fortunately. No teeth in his blowhard social media presence.
He’s actually done nothing, nothing, since he was replaced with our votes and misplaced backing.
I feel trump is now
Reinforcing israel, to
Our detriment.
I’m not thrilled with our current president because of his need to profit, on the fringe, due to the trash running the western world.
I don’t much care about late night TV–but seeing how Colbert has already been canceled, shouldn’t Trump have more important things to do than complain about a RERUN?
Sealed the Border
Achieved to a significant degree.
Cracked Down on Criminal Illegal Aliens
Strong progress reported.
Secured a Gaza Ceasefire
Partially achieved (ceasefire in place, but fragile).
Lower Gas Prices for American Families
Prices have fallen notably.
Stable Unemployment & Inflation
Mixed/stable, with positive indicators
Record-High Military Recruitment
Lower Taxes on Hardworking Americans
Via major legislation.
NATO Allies Paying More for Defense
Significant commitment secured.
Greatly Lowered Drug Smuggling into the U.S.
Major reductions claimed.
Colbert can piss off.