The cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has sparked a heated debate, with Donald Trump quickly denying responsibility while attributing the firing to "pure lack of TALENT."
Despite CBS citing financial reasons for the show's 2026 end, Trump predicts similar fates to other late-night hosts, fueling speculation about political motives behind the decision.
What Did President Donald Trump Claim About the Late Show Cancellation?
As Stephen Colbert and the rest of the Late Show co-hosts spread the word about their cancellation, President Donald Trump wasn't about to let his name get dragged in the mud for long.
On Tuesday, Trump hopped on Truth Social to distance himself from allegedly firing Colbert and cancelling his segment, which stirred up the controversy in the first place.
"The reason he was fired was a pure lack of TALENT," Trump wrote on the platform, "And the fact that this deficiency was costing CBS $50 million a year in losses - and it was only going to get WORSE!"
Despite his defense, he adds more Late Show hosts to the list, which he claims will be the "next" to get canned from their respective TV programming.
Trump continues, "Next up will be an even less talented Jimmy Kimmel, and then, a weak and very insecure Jimmy Fallon. The only real question is, who will go first?"
What Really Happened to the Late Show? Are They Cancelling?
The majority were led to believe that Trump used the pending merger between Skydance and Paramount as a way to get Colbert, a prominent Trump critic, off the air, as the FCC needed to approve the deal.
This theory gained further traction given ongoing controversies, which include the allegations of 60 Minutes manipulating their interview with Kamala Harris.
While the FCC ultimately greenlit the major merger, critics quickly pointed out that soon after, Colbert 'lost his stage' as The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was confirmed to be running only until May 2026.
Previously, CBS said the cancellation was "purely a financial decision" and that the show's annual losses, as Trump mentioned, were reported to be an estimated $40 million.
This timing fueled speculation that the merger approval may have been tied to efforts to remove Colbert.
"Show Biz and Television is a very simple business," Trump added, "If you get Ratings, you can say or do anything. If you don't, you will always become a victim. Colbert became a victim of himself, and the other two will follow."
It remains to be seen whether Trump will be triumphant in putting The Late Show and its hosts off the air for good, but for now, Colbert and the rest of their fellow Late Show hosts are keen on saving and protecting one another from becoming the next target getting off the market.
The cancellation raises questions about the future of late-night television and the potential long-term impact on the Late Show franchise altogether. This series has been quite the staple for decades.
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