CBS Decides to Cancel 'The Late Show'... Colbert Responds Mentioning Trump

CBS in the U.S. has decided to end the popular late-night talk show 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' with its final broadcast in May 2025, and the show's host, Stephen Colbert, has expressed his stance regarding comments made by former President Donald Trump.

In the opening monologue aired on July 21, Colbert mentioned a post by former President Trump on the social media platform 'Truth Social' regarding the cancellation of his program. Trump had posted that he was "happy Colbert was fired" and that "his talent is worse than the ratings."

In response, Colbert stated on the broadcast, "How can you say such a thing?" emphasizing that the content of his show has meaning beyond mere mockery or satire. He conveyed his reaction to the comments with humor and took time to interact with the audience during the show. Some remarks were edited with a 'beep' sound.

Colbert also referenced another post by Trump during the same period, where he mentioned fellow broadcaster Jimmy Kimmel as the "next target for firing." He rebutted this by stating that he would endure being the target of such satire.

Additionally, he expressed disappointment over the perception that "cancel culture" is becoming increasingly excessive, regarding the cancellation of the program. He added, "I will say what I have to say during the remaining time."

Colbert has been hosting 'The Late Show' since 2015, creating the program's identity through social and cultural satire of various figures, including those in American politics. He took over from David Letterman and has led the late-night show for ten years.

CBS has not provided specific reasons for the official cancellation, and the program is set to end next May without a successor. Various interpretations regarding the political background have been raised among local media and some viewers.