President Donald Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, on Friday morning to celebrate the cancellation of CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Trump’s post not only mocked the long-running late-night host but also speculated that fellow late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel could be next on the chopping block. The president also praised Fox News’ Greg Gutfeld as superior to his left-leaning rivals.
Stephen Colbert on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert – YouTube, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
“I absolutely love that Colbert got fired,” the president wrote. “His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert! Greg Gutfeld is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show.” That was part was a reference to Jimmy Fallon.
The announcement of the show’s end came just a day earlier, on Thursday, July 17th, when CBS revealed that The Late Show would conclude in May 2026 after its current season.
Network executives described the decision as “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night,” emphasizing that it was unrelated to the show’s performance, content, or external factors at parent company Paramount Global.
U.S. President Donald Trump sits for an interview with ABC News – YouTube, ABC News
Despite this, the timing has raised eyebrows, coming mere days after Colbert publicly criticized Paramount’s $16 million settlement with Trump over a disputed 60 Minutes interview.
Background: The Settlement and Colbert’s Critique
The controversy traces back to a lawsuit filed by Trump in late 2024, alleging that CBS deceptively edited an October interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris on 60 Minutes to make her appear more favorable. Trump accused the network of election interference, seeking up to $20 billion in damages.
Stephen Colbert dances around with human needles – YouTube, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Paramount settled the case on July 1, 2025, agreeing to pay $16 million—directed toward Trump’s future presidential library—without admitting wrongdoing or issuing an apology. Trump has since claimed that the true settlement value is closer to $35 million.
Colbert, a vocal Trump critic since taking over The Late Show in 2015, addressed the settlement in his first monologue after returning from vacation on July 14th.
He lambasted Paramount, calling the payment a “big, fat bribe” aimed at securing Trump administration approval for the company’s $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media.
Paramount owner Shari Redstone sits for an interview – YouTube, Vox Media
“As someone who has always been a proud employee of this network, I am offended,” Colbert said. “And I don’t know if anything will ever repair my trust in this company. But, just taking a stab at it, I’d say $16 million would help.”
He further joked about the legal term for such a settlement. he called it a ‘big fat bribe,’ claiming that it all comes as Paramount’s owners are trying to get the Trump administration to approve the sale of the company to Skydance. The merger requires approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), now led by Trump appointee Brendan Carr, adding fuel to speculation of a quid pro quo from some outlets.
Stephen Colbert on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert – YouTube, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
This wasn’t the first internal rebuke. Jon Stewart, host of The Daily Show on Paramount-owned Comedy Central, had earlier called the settlement a “shameful” act of “fealty” to Trump, comparing it to a scene from Goodfellas.
Colbert Breaks the News to his Audience
During Thursday’s taping, Colbert informed his live audience of the cancellation, expressing gratitude to his staff and CBS executives while noting the finality of the decision.
Stephen Colbert on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert – YouTube, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
“It is a fantastic job. I wish somebody else was getting it,” he said amid boos from the crowd. “Yeah, I share your feelings. It’s not just the end of our show, but it’s the end of The Late Show on CBS. I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.”
The show, which has been the top-rated late-night program for nine straight seasons with an average of 2.417 million viewers this year, marks the end of a 33-year franchise that began with David Letterman in 1993.
Reactions: From Outrage to Calls for Investigation
Trump’s gleeful response has emboldened voices on the left that claim the cancellation may be politically motivated. Democratic lawmakers and media watchdogs quickly voiced suspicions linking it to the settlement and merger.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) posted on X: “CBS canceled Colbert’s show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump – a deal that looks like bribery. America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.”
CBS canceled Colbert’s show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump – a deal that looks like bribery.
America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.
Watch and share his message. pic.twitter.com/Rz7HcWFLYM
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) July 18, 2025
Warren, who previously launched a bribery investigation into Paramount’s dealings with Trump, urged transparency.
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), a guest on Thursday’s show, echoed her: “Just finished taping with Stephen Colbert, who announced his show was cancelled. If Paramount and CBS ended The Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better.”
Just finished taping with Stephen Colbert who announced his show was cancelled.
If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better.
— Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) July 17, 2025
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) added: “Colbert’s show was canceled three days after he called out Paramount… for folding to Trump with a $16M settlement for a lawsuit that even they called ‘without merit.’ People deserve to know if this is a politically motivated attack on free speech.”
Press freedom advocates have decried the settlement as setting a “dangerous precedent,” fearing it emboldens attacks on media. On X, reactions ranged from outrage over perceived censorship to celebrations from Trump supporters.
🚨 It’s not fair! 😭🥔
Brian Stelter (remember him?!) MELTED down like butter on a baked potato over the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s late-night talk show.
Stelter pointed to Colbert’s status as a “Trump critic” and the fact that he had just got back from vacation. 👇 pic.twitter.com/dVjB9Sto8T
— Anthony Iafrate (@tonyiafratedc) July 18, 2025
Former CNN anchor Brian Stelter lamented the decision, highlighting Colbert’s role as a Trump critic. Entertainment figures like director Judd Apatow praised Colbert, saying, “My admiration and appreciation for you is bottomless.”washingtonpost.com
Broader Implications for Late-Night TV and Media
This cancellation signals broader challenges for late-night television, which has seen declining viewership in the streaming era, with shows like Colbert’s averaging only about 0.7% of the U.S. population on a typical night. CBS previously ended The Late Late Show and After Midnight, reflecting industry-wide shifts driven by financial pressures and changing audience habits.
Stephen Colbert on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert – YouTube, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
From a liberal perspective, the timing raises alarms about potential political motivations, with figures like Sen. Elizabeth Warren suggesting it could be retaliation—potentially chilling free speech and journalistic independence. CBS News has faced internal turmoil as well, with executives Wendy McMahon and Bill Owens departing amid disagreements over the settlement.
Conservatives, however, view it as a straightforward business decision due to poor ratings and Colbert’s perceived leftist bias, with some celebrating it as a blow to “activist” late-night hosts and a consequence of his on-air criticisms. President Trump and supporters like Newsmax have hailed the move, praising alternatives like Greg Gutfeld while dismissing claims of political interference.
Greg Gutfeld on his late night show Gutfeld! – YouTube, Fox News
Colbert, nominated for an Emmy this week alongside Kimmel and Stewart, has 10 months left as a late night host. Whether this marks the “death of late-night TV” due to economic realities or a politically driven purge remains a hotly contested question, with both sides citing evidence to support their views.
Donald Trump speaks at his inauguration in 2017 – YouTube, ABC News
The White House has not commented further, but Trump’s post suggests he views this as a personal victory in his ongoing feud with critical media voices.
How do you feel about President Trump and his comments about Stephen Colbert? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
