The Late Show With Stephen Colbert is on its last legs after CBS, the network that airs it, decided to pull the plug on the popular talk show. While many have wondered if the reason for the cancellation is political, US President Donald Trump fanned those flames with a message full of glee over the show going off air. But the talk show host did not mince his words either.
Stephen Colbert slams Donald Trump
In a post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump wrote, “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings.” This was right after Colbert broke the news on air that The Late Show is ending this year.
The talk show host responded to Trump in his opening monologue on Monday, the first episode of the show since the cancellation announcement. Taking a mock tone of contempt, Colbert read out Trump's post and added, “How dare you, sir? Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism?”
Colbert then appeared in an on-screen frame that read Eloquence Cam, before he stared directly into the camera and said: “Go f*** yourself.” The f-bomb was bleeped out for the telecast, but the studio audience seemed to lap it up. There was a massive roar of cheer, followed by cheers of “Stephen! Stephen! Stephen!”
The preview of the monologue was shared by the Late Show on Instagram, too, with the caption: “Sticks and stones may break our bones but presidential turds can never hurt us.”
{{/usCountry}}The preview of the monologue was shared by the Late Show on Instagram, too, with the caption: “Sticks and stones may break our bones but presidential turds can never hurt us.”
{{/usCountry}}All about The Late Show cancellation
The Late Show will be ending with its 11th and final season, ending May 2026. Colbert, the host, announced this on air on Thursday, adding that he found out only on Wednesday. This has led to a few protests, both online and on ground, with protestors demanding: “Trump must go, Colbert must stay.” CBS has maintained that the show's cancellation is “purely a financial decision,” due to a years-long dwindling of ratings of late-night TV in the US.
However, the timing of the announcement was suspect, many felt. It came immediately after Colbert slammed CBS for paying Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit over an interview. Calling it a 'big fat bribe' on air, Colbert implied the payment was meant to ease things over for CBS' parent company Paramount Global's merger with Skydance.