Stephen Colberts Late Show: Was this Trump joke out of his doom?

US President Donald Trump celebrated the announced dismissal of the late night show by satirist Stephen Colbert. “I totally love that Colbert has been fired,” Trump wrote on his online language tube Truth Social. “His talent was even smaller than his ratings,” he said of the moderator, who is known for his snappy humor and repeatedly criticizes the US President.

Trump also announced against ABC presenter Jimmy Kimmel, who also often jokes about him: “I hear that Kimmel is the next thing. He has even less talent than Colbert!”

Previously, the US broadcaster CBS had announced that “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” would end in May 2026. The broadcaster Stephen Colbert, known for his biting humor, was irreplaceable, the broadcaster said, so the show would be completely stopped. It is a “purely financial decision” given the hard competition in the late night TV. “It is not related to the number of spectators, content or processes in the company,” emphasized CBS.

The discontinuation of the Colbert Show falls into a phase in which CBS mother group Paramount is under pressure. Trump had accused the CBS magazine “60 Minutes” last year of cutting an interview with his rival Kamala Harris in such a way that a weak answer was concealed. “60 Minutes” contested this and published a transcript.

Although media law experts Paramount saw in a strong position, the group agreed in a comparison of over $ 16 million. Paramount is currently dependent on the consent of the US government for a long-term negotiated change of ownership. Colbert commented on the comparison in his program as “a big fat shortfall”.

Colbert took over the “Late Show” launched in 1993 around ten years ago by David Letterman. The moderator of colleague Jimmy Kimmel received support, who has moderated the “Late Night Show” at ABC since 2003. “I love you Stephen,” said Kimmel, criticizing the broadcaster CBS for his decision. “Like everyone else, I am completely shocked,” wrote Jimmy Fallon, moderator of the “The Tonight Show” at the broadcaster NBC, on Instagram. Colbert is one of the snacks and funniest moderators.

Actor Ben Stiller complained about the cancellation “one of the best shows” at the broadcaster CBS, “Severance” star Adam Scott spoke of “absolutely nonsense”. Actress Rachel Zegler commented that she was worshiping Colbert and was now “extremely sad”. “Colbert Cancelt? Please tell me that this is a joke,” bestseller author Stephen King indicated her displeasure on the platform X. Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis on the sidelines of an event in Los Angeles. This was really bad, said the actress. They tried to silence people. “But that doesn’t work. We’ll be just louder,” said Curtis.

The late night shows, which are popular in America, have been a powerful format since Trump’s election as President to counter the president’s right-wing populism. While traditional media formats can reach their limits because of the many falsehoods and distortions of reality in reporting on Trump, the comedy-Talker opposing him, who reveals Trump from the audience of ridiculousness.