US President Donald Trump, who has long had a fraught and combative relationship with American late-night television hosts, has once again targeted comedian Stephen Colbert, demanding that CBS remove him from the air immediately as what he called an “early Christmas present.” In a fresh and aggressive outburst, Trump directed his criticism at Colbert following the earlier announcement that his long-running late-night show would be cancelled.
In a series of sharply worded posts on his social media platform Truth Social, the 79-year-old Republican president described Colbert as a “pathetic trainwreck” and claimed the comedian lacked the talent or qualities needed for success in the entertainment industry. Trump alleged that Colbert, whose show was cancelled by CBS in July, had deteriorated further since the decision, accusing him of surviving only on “hatred and fumes” and mocking his television ratings.
Trump went so far as to suggest that CBS should “put him to sleep” immediately, framing the remark as a so-called “humanitarian” act to spare audiences further exposure. The president’s language was widely seen as inflammatory and part of his broader pattern of verbal attacks against media figures who are openly critical of him and his political movement.
This was not an isolated comment but part of a broader rant in which Trump extended his criticism to the television networks themselves. He questioned whether major broadcasters should be allowed to retain their licences if their news coverage and late-night programming were, in his words, “almost 100% negative” toward him, the MAGA movement and the Republican Party. Trump openly suggested that such broadcast licences should be terminated.
The president also took aim at other major networks, including ABC and NBC, accusing them of employing what he termed the “worst late-night hosts.” He claimed that these hosts shared three defining traits: high salaries, no talent and extremely low viewership, further reinforcing his long-standing grievance with late-night comedy shows that frequently satirise him.
In July, CBS announced that it would be cancelling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, citing financial pressures and the challenging economics of late-night television. The network stressed at the time that the decision was purely business-related and had nothing to do with the show’s content, political commentary or performance, nor with other developments involving its parent company, Paramount Global.
Despite these assurances, the cancellation sparked significant backlash from viewers, critics and fellow entertainers, many of whom questioned whether political factors played a role. The timing of the announcement drew particular scrutiny, as it came only weeks after Paramount Global agreed to settle a high-profile lawsuit with Trump, fuelling speculation about external pressure and editorial independence.
CBS has stated that Colbert’s final episode will air in May 2026, allowing the show to conclude its run with a planned send-off rather than an abrupt end. Colbert himself has not directly responded to Trump’s recent remarks.
Trump’s criticism of late-night television has not been limited to Colbert. Earlier, his administration had also acted against Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show on ABC after Kimmel made remarks related to the assassination of conservative figure and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. That decision triggered legal disputes and widespread public backlash.
Following days of legal challenges and strong viewer response, Kimmel’s show was restored, and reports later indicated that he signed a new deal with Disney, ABC’s parent company, extending his programme through 2027. The episode underscored the ongoing tension between Trump and late-night entertainers, a conflict that continues to blur the lines between politics, media, and free expression in the United States.
