Two days after he publicly condemned the settlement between CBS’ parent company and President Trump…
CBS has confirmed that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will conclude at the end of the upcoming broadcast season in May 2026 — and Colbert will not be replaced afterward. The decision is driven purely by finances, not the show’s performance or content.
The announcement surprised Colbert — they say he learned of it only after taping Thursday’s night episode. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to CBS, his staff, band, and loyal viewers, calling the job “fantastic.”
Network executives described the cancellation as a financially motivated move, citing the challenges of sustaining a legacy late-night franchise in today’s changing TV landscape. They emphasized Colbert’s show had strong ratings and relevance, dismissing any content-based reasons or Paramount-related issues.
“It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount,” the network said in a statement. “Our admiration, affection and respect for the talents of Stephen Colbert and his incredible team made this agonizing decision even more difficult.”
In early July 2025, Paramount Global (the parent company of CBS) quietly settled President Donald Trump’s lawsuit over the October 2024 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, for $16 million, funding Trump’s legal fees and presidential library, without apologizing, and as part of broader business considerations linked to its merger plans.
Forty-eight hours earlier, Colbert derided the settlement as a “big fat bribe.”
President Trump said Friday morning that he was thrilled by the news that CBS is canceling the decade-running “Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
“I absolutely love that Colbert’ got fired,” the president wrote in a post on Truth Social. “His talent was even less than his ratings.”
The president also took aim at ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and NBC’s “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon, while praising Fox News’s Greg Gutfeld, whose talk show “Gutfeld!” airs an hour earlier than the major late-night shows.
“I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert!” Trump wrote. “Greg Gutfeld is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show.”
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Well deserved for sure Yes now try Comedy Central
LOL. Hahahahaha LOL
Maybe if all of the late night hosts were funny, instead of being obsessed so deeply with TDS, they can’t see straight, they might keep their shows. I think a few more are going to be cancelled, and well they should be. They all got really obnoxiously sickening. You can throw in some political stuff, but don’t make it your only schtick. Look back to the old days of late night, and you’ll see why those hosts were on so long, and are still funny in You Tube videos, or reruns. Take a lesson.
Stephen Colbert is a national treasure and Trump’s enmity proves Colbert’s greatness. It’s not always easy to be a South Carolinian, but Colbert helps me feel proud!