Trump vs. Colbert: The Feud Escalates as 'The Late Show' Gets Canceled
After hosting the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, President Donald Trump took to social media to criticize Stephen Colbert, the host of the CBS late-night show "The Late Show." Trump called Colbert talentless and urged CBS to cancel his show immediately. He also questioned the late-night hosts on CBS, ABC, and NBC, criticizing their high salaries and low ratings. Trump reiterated his call for the government to revoke TV broadcasters' licenses if they are negative towards him and the Republican Party.
During a rerun of "The Late Show" on Dec. 23, Colbert mocked Trump for his involvement in the Kennedy Center and his hosting duties at the Kennedy Center Honors. Colbert joked about Trump's pre-complaints about his hosting skills and fact-checked his claims about Jimmy Kimmel. Colbert also made fun of Trump receiving a "fake" FIFA Peace Prize and compared it to receiving a knock-off video game console. Trump responded to CBS's announcement of the cancellation of "The Late Show" by expressing his delight at Colbert's firing.
CBS did not refer to the Kennedy Center as the "Trump Kennedy Center" in its broadcast of the Kennedy Center Honors, as the ceremony was recorded before Trump's name was added to the building. The network's standards department instructed staff to maintain the original Kennedy Center name in their coverage. Despite the ongoing feud between Trump and Colbert, CBS cited financial reasons for the cancellation of "The Late Show." The late-night TV economics had been declining for years, leading to the decision to end the show in May 2026.
In conclusion, the tension between President Trump and Stephen Colbert continues to escalate, with Trump calling for the cancellation of Colbert's show and Colbert firing back with jokes and criticisms. The controversy surrounding the Kennedy Center Honors and the renaming of the building adds another layer to the ongoing feud between the two personalities. CBS's decision to end "The Late Show" was based on financial considerations, highlighting the challenges faced by late-night TV programs in the current media landscape.