Donald Trump warns other Late Night hosts following Colbert's exit.
Trump Says Colbert’s CBS Firing Marks ‘Beginning of the End’ for Late Night
May 22 2026, Published 4:47 p.m. ET
President Donald Trump celebrated Stephen Colbert's last night on CBS by marking the end of The Late Show and suggesting that other late-night hosts might follow.
Trump shared his thoughts on Truth Social after Colbert wrapped up on Thursday, May 21. Colbert ended an 11-season run, becoming one of the most prominent Trump critics on television.
CBS announced last year that it would cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and retire the franchise due to financial concerns.
Trump warns other late night hosts that their on the clock.
“Stephen Colbert’s firing from CBS was the 'Beginning of the End' for untalented, nasty, highly overpaid, not funny, and very poorly rated late-night television hosts,” Trump wrote, according to Reuters.
He also mentioned Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver, and Jon Stewart, predicting they would eventually leave television as well.
Trump has long had clashes with late-night hosts who used their shows to make fun of him, his administration, and his political movement.
Colbert did not focus on Trump during his final broadcast. Instead, he thanked his staff, audience, and family, while welcoming back notable figures from late night and entertainment.
The finale featured Paul McCartney and appearances from several of Colbert’s late-night peers, including Kimmel, Fallon, Meyers, Oliver, and Stewart.
The show combined tributes with humor, closing out a CBS late-night legacy that began in 1993 with David Letterman and continued after Colbert took over in 2015.
Colbert roasts President Donald Trump on his final run.
Colbert's CBS show emphasized politics more than Letterman's did. Trump became one of his primary targets during the 2016 campaign and throughout Trump’s first term, comeback attempt, and second administration. This focus helped Colbert stand out in late night, even as the format faced challenges.
CBS announced in July 2025 that it would end The Late Show due to financial reasons. This news came shortly after Colbert criticized Paramount, CBS's parent company, regarding its $16 million settlement with Trump related to a dispute over a 60 Minutes interview.
The timing drew immediate backlash from Democrats and entertainment figures who questioned whether politics played a role in the decision.
Paramount was also seeking federal approval for its merger with Skydance Media. CBS and Paramount denied that Colbert’s cancellation was linked to politics or the settlement.
Trump has often criticized major broadcast networks, calling for action against hosts he believes are unfair to him.
Reuters reported that he urged the Federal Communications Commission to address networks and called for the removal of Kimmel and Meyers.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr has denied that Colbert’s cancellation was due to political pressure, according to Reuters.
The late-night business has struggled for years as traditional TV audiences decline and viewers increasingly prefer to watch clips online instead of full episodes.
Networks have cut costs, reduced programming, and considered whether expensive nightly shows are still viable in the current media landscape.
CBS will not replace Colbert with another traditional late-night host. This leaves ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! and NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night With Seth Meyers as the remaining major broadcast late-night programs.
Trump’s post turned Colbert’s departure into a political victory lap. It also highlighted that the long-standing conflict between Trump and late-night TV did not end with Colbert’s final signoff.