Trump Celebrates Colbert’s Cancellation, Predicts Kimmel’s Demise Next

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On a Friday morning, I hopped onto my social media platform, Truth Social, to share some thoughts about CBS’s decision to cancel “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” In my post, I couldn’t help but poke fun at the late-night host and hint that his fellow comedian, Jimmy Kimmel, might be next. I also took a moment to applaud Fox News’ Greg Gutfeld for outshining his left-leaning counterparts.

The president expressed his delight about Colbert being let go, stating that his ability was inferior to his viewership ratings. He also hinted that Jimmy Kimmel might be next, suggesting that he has even less talent than Colbert. In comparison, Greg Gutfeld surpasses all of them, including the individual who ruined the previously excellent Tonight Show on NBC, a reference to Jimmy Fallon.

The news about the show’s finale broke a day prior, on July 17th (Thursday), as CBS disclosed that The Late Show is scheduled to wrap up in May 2026 following its ongoing season.

The network bosses characterized the move as strictly a “financial call, given the difficult terrain in late-night television.” They made clear that this decision had no connection to the program’s quality, its content, or any influences from Paramount Global, their parent company.

Even so, the timing is drawing questions, as it transpired just a few days following Colbert’s public critique of Paramount for the $16 million settlement they reached with Trump over a contested 60 Minutes interview.

Background: The Settlement and Colbert’s Critique

The disagreement originated from a lawsuit Trump filed towards the end of 2024, claiming that CBS manipulated an October interview with Vice President Kamala Harris on 60 Minutes, making her seem more favorable. Trump argued that the network interfered in the election and demanded up to $20 billion in compensation for the alleged deception.

Back in 2025, on July 1st, I found myself engaged in a case with Paramount. To my surprise, they decided to settle it. The agreed-upon sum was set at $16 million, which was earmarked for my future presidential library. It’s important to note that no admission of wrongdoing or apology was issued as part of the agreement. However, Trump has since stated that he believes the actual settlement value is nearer to $35 million.

In his first show following a break on July 14th, Stephen Colbert, who has been a consistent critic of Trump since he took over The Late Show in 2015, touched upon the recent settlement in his opening monologue.

He strongly criticized Paramount, labeling the payment as a substantial and excessive bribe, allegedly intended to win approval from the Trump administration for the company’s $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media.

Speaking as a long-time loyal worker of this network, I was deeply hurt by the situation,” Colbert expressed. “I’m not sure if anything can restore my faith in this company again. However, to attempt to address the issue, I might suggest a sum of $16 million could potentially help.

Additionally, he playfully commented on the name for such an agreement, referring to it as a “generous payment,” implying that this is part of Paramount’s owners attempting to win over the Trump administration in their efforts to secure approval for the sale of the company to Skydance. This deal necessitates clearance from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), now headed by Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, which has sparked talk among certain media outlets about a potential exchange of favors.

Previously, I hadn’t encountered just one internal reproof. As the host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central, owned by Paramount, Jon Stewart had earlier labeled the settlement as a “disgraceful” act of “loyalty” towards Trump, drawing a parallel to a scene from Goodfellas.

Colbert Breaks the News to his Audience

On Thursday during filming, Colbert shared with his live viewers the news about its cancellation. He expressed thanks towards his team and CBS executives, acknowledging that this decision was final.

He expressed that the job was extraordinary, but he wished someone else were getting it instead. As the crowd jeered, he confided that this wasn’t only the conclusion of our show, but also the final chapter for The Late Show on CBS. He clarified that he isn’t being replaced; rather, everything is simply disappearing.

For nine consecutive seasons, this show has held the position as the most popular late-night program, averaging 2.417 million viewers per episode this year. This marks the conclusion of a 33-year run for this franchise, which started with David Letterman in 1993.

Reactions: From Outrage to Calls for Investigation

Trump’s enthusiastic reaction has given strength to voices on the left who argue that the cancellation might be politically driven. Immediately, Democratic legislators and media oversight groups expressed their doubts, suggesting a potential connection between the decision and the settlement or merger.

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) shared on X: “CBS terminated the Colbert show only THREE DAYS following Colbert’s criticism of CBS parent company Paramount over a $16M settlement with Trump – an agreement that seems like bribery. It’s crucial for America to understand whether the cancellation was due to political motives.

CBS abruptly ended Colbert’s program only THREE SHORT DAYS following Colbert criticizing CBS’s parent company, Paramount, over a $16 million settlement they made with Donald Trump – an agreement that appears to be a form of bribery.

America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.

Watch and share his message.

— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) July 18, 2025

Warren, who earlier initiated an investigation into potential bribery involving Paramount and Trump, emphasized the importance of openness.

As a movie enthusiast, I just wrapped up my conversation with Stephen Colbert on his show, only to learn it’s been cancelled. If this decision by Paramount and CBS was due to political factors, the audience has a right to be informed. They deserve more than this unexpected ending.

Just finished taping with Stephen Colbert who announced his show was cancelled.

It’s important that people are informed if The Late Show by Paramount and CBS was terminated due to political motives. They also deserve a more transparent approach in such situations.

— Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) July 17, 2025

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) stated: “Colbert’s show was terminated just three days following his criticism of Paramount, who settled a $16M lawsuit with Trump, despite them labeling it as ‘without merit.’ It is important for the public to understand if this move against free speech was politically driven.

As a passionate moviegoer, I can’t help but voice my concerns over a recent settlement that some are calling “dangerous.” This ruling, in my opinion, could potentially embolden attacks on the very medium that brings stories to life – the media. The response has been quite diverse; many have expressed outrage due to perceived censorship, while others, notably Trump supporters, seem to be celebrating this move.

🚨 It’s not fair! 😭🥔

Brian Stelter, you may recall, showed strong feelings similar to melted butter on a hot potato, upon the news of the cancelation of Stephen Colbert’s late-night talk show.

Stelter highlighted two aspects about Colbert: first, his role as a critic of President Trump, and second, the fact that he had recently returned from a vacation.

— Anthony Iafrate (@tonyiafratedc) July 18, 2025

Previously employed CNN host Brian Stelter expressed regret over the move, emphasizing Colbert’s function as a critic of Donald Trump. Notable entertainment figures, such as director Judd Apatow, commended Colbert, expressing, “My respect and admiration for you is infinite.” (washingtonpost.com)

Broader Implications for Late-Night TV and Media

The cancellation of this program indicates wider issues for late-night TV, a genre that has experienced decreasing viewership during the streaming age, with shows such as Colbert’s attracting roughly 0.7% of Americans on an average evening. CBS has already discontinued both ‘The Late Late Show’ and ‘After Midnight,’ mirroring broader industry changes due to financial strains and evolving viewer preferences.

From a liberal viewpoint, the timing of this event raises suspicions about possible political retribution, with Senator Elizabeth Warren among those suggesting it might be retaliatory action – an act that could potentially stifle free speech and journalistic autonomy. CBS News has also experienced internal conflicts, as executives Wendy McMahon and Bill Owens have left their positions due to disagreements concerning the settlement.

Conservatives consider it as a simple business choice because of Colbert’s low ratings and perceived liberal bias; some are even delighted by it as a setback for activist late-night hosts, viewing it as retribution for his on-air criticisms. President Trump and his supporters like Newsmax have lauded the decision, endorsing alternatives such as Greg Gutfeld while denying allegations of political manipulation.

This week, Colbert was nominated for an Emmy alongside Kimmel and Stewart, and he has only 10 more months as a late-night host. Whether this signifies the end of late-night TV due to financial constraints or a politically motivated cleansing is a topic under intense debate, with each side presenting arguments to back their claims.

Without additional comment from the White House, it appears that Donald Trump may consider this event as a personal triumph in his continuous disagreement with influential media figures, based on his recent social media post.

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2025-07-18 19:58