Stephen Colbert used his Monday night monologue to respond directly to President Trump, who had publicly celebrated the cancellation of The Late Show in a fiery social media post last week.
Why it matters: Colbert has long been one of Trump’s sharpest critics in late-night television, but his recent jabs haven’t been limited to politics. He also questioned the motives behind CBS parent company Paramount Global’s decision to settle a $16 million lawsuit filed by Trump just days before the network announced The Late Show would end in 2026.
In his Truth Social post, Trump wrote:
“I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert!”
Colbert responded with his trademark sarcasm, turning the insult into satire.
“How dare you, sir? Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism? ‘Go f**k yourself.’”
Background: The controversy stems from Paramount’s recent legal settlement with Trump, who had sued the company over a 60 Minutes segment that aired during the last election. Many in the media industry saw the lawsuit as baseless and expressed disappointment in the company for not fighting it in court.
Colbert addressed the settlement on-air days before news of his show’s cancellation broke.
“I believe this kind of complicated financial settlement with a sitting government official has a technical name in legal circles: it’s ‘big, fat bribe.’”
What’s fueling the backlash: CBS claimed the show’s cancellation was due to financial concerns, noting that The Late Show had been running at a loss. But the timing just after a politically charged settlement and amid pending regulatory approval of Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media has raised eyebrows among media analysts and lawmakers.
Colbert told his audience last Thursday that he only learned of the cancellation the day prior.
Meanwhile, David Ellison, CEO of Skydance, met with FCC officials last week urging them to approve Paramount’s license transfers, a key step in finalizing the merger. Critics say the rush to complete the deal, combined with the settlement and Colbert’s exit, suggests possible behind-the-scenes coordination.
Political fallout: The issue has escalated in Washington. Senate Democrats including Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Ron Wyden announced a formal investigation into what they’re calling a potential “secret Trump payoff” tied to the merger deal.
The allegation centers on reports that Trump struck a side agreement with the media conglomerate’s future ownership group potentially trading support for FCC approval in exchange for commitments to air pro-conservative public service announcements. Trump has not denied the reports and has hinted at their accuracy.
Big picture: Once a staple of American entertainment, network late-night shows are now struggling to survive in a politically charged, streaming-dominated media landscape. Political satire long a Colbert specialty has become riskier business, often alienating part of the audience and inviting pressure from powerful figures.
Trump has frequently targeted major late-night hosts over the years, branding Jimmy Kimmel “one of the dumbest human beings ever,” calling Jimmy Fallon “not very funny,” and labeling Seth Meyers “dumb and untalented.”
With The Late Show now set to end after a decade under Colbert’s leadership, the fate of late-night television and its place in political discourse continues to evolve under mounting financial and political pressures.