In a surprising move, CBS announced that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end its run in May 2026. The network attributed the decision to shows financial losses of up to $40 million annually, despite Colbert’s dominance in the ratings. The cancellation of the decade-long show shocked viewers, especially with Colbert being the most-watched late-night host in America.
Donald Trump quickly took to Truth Social, declaring his victory over Colbert’s ouster. The former president didn’t stop at Colbert, though. He predicted that Jimmy Kimmel would be the next late-night host to be “axed.” Trump wrote, “These are people with absolutely NO TALENT,” referring to Kimmel and Fallon. He further added that they were “paid millions” while destroying “what used to be GREAT Television.” Trump expressed satisfaction at the cancellation, claiming, “It’s really good to see them go, and I hope I played a major part in it!”
Colbert’s cancellation sparked a wave of reactions across the late-night television landscape. Several hosts, including Seth Meyers, John Oliver, and Jon Stewart, voiced concerns about the potential erosion of political satire. Former Late Show host David Letterman also criticized CBS, calling the cancellation a thinly veiled excuse. The support for Colbert and the concerns over political comedy being silenced were loud and clear.
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Colbert addressed the cancellation during a taping of his latest episode, expressing gratitude to his crew, viewers, and CBS. He confirmed that the show’s final season would air through May 2026. Despite the cancellation, Colbert promised to continue his work with the usual “gang of idiots” for another 10 months. In his trademark style, he also made a pointed joke about Trump, hinting that he wouldn’t hold back in his final season. “They left me alive… I can say what I really think of Donald Trump, starting right now,” Colbert quipped.