In a significant shift for late-night television, CBS announced the cancellation of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, set to conclude in May 2026. The decision, revealed by Colbert on Thursday night, follows over three decades of the program entertaining audiences, including both Colbert’s and David Letterman’s tenures as hosts.
President Donald Trump, frequently a target of Colbert’s comedic critiques, quickly took to Truth Social to express his satisfaction with the show’s cancellation. He remarked, “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings.” Trump also speculated on the future of other late-night hosts, predicting that Jimmy Kimmel might be next, while praising Greg Gutfeld of Fox News as superior to Colbert and Kimmel.
Colbert’s announcement coincides with a heated controversy involving CBS’s parent company, Paramount. Just days before the cancellation, Colbert delivered a pointed monologue criticizing the company for a $16 million settlement with Trump. The settlement arose from claims of “deceitful” editing in a 60 Minutes interview featuring former Vice President Kamala Harris. CBS News characterized the lawsuit as “completely without merit,” a statement that Colbert publicly challenged during his broadcast.
In his monologue, Colbert expressed disappointment in CBS, stating, “As someone who has always been a proud employee of this network, I am offended.” He suggested that the financial settlement might resemble a “big fat bribe,” especially as Paramount seeks approval for a merger with Skydance Media, a move that could potentially influence the network’s programming decisions.
Despite speculation linking the show’s cancellation to political pressures, CBS maintained that the decision was purely financial. In an official statement, the network asserted, “This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content, or other matters happening at Paramount.”
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert has consistently led its time slot in viewership, surpassing competitors like Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon according to Nielsen ratings. Nevertheless, the timing of the cancellation has drawn scrutiny from political figures.
Senator Elizabeth Warren highlighted the situation on social media, stating, “CBS canceled Colbert’s show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16 million settlement with Trump — a deal that looks like bribery.” Fellow Senator Adam Schiff, who recently appeared on the show, echoed Warren’s concerns, asserting that if the cancellation was politically motivated, the public deserves transparency.
In response to Colbert’s firing, Kimmel offered a more direct message on social media, expressing solidarity with Colbert while criticizing CBS’s decision.
As the landscape of late-night television continues to evolve, the implications of this cancellation resonate beyond mere programming changes, reflecting deeper tensions within the industry and its connections to political power.
