Television host Stephen Colbert sparked headlines after directly confronting former President Donald Trump with a blunt message during a recent episode of The Late Show.
The incident came in response to a social media post from Trump, who reacted with glee to the news that CBS would be ending Colbert’s long-running late-night program. According to reports, The Late Show is set to go off the air in May 2026 due to financial difficulties. CBS stated it had lost $40 million over the past year.
Despite the show consistently drawing strong ratings—2.4 million viewers in its most recent quarter, more than both Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon—CBS cited budget concerns as the main reason for the cancellation.
Colbert, known for his comedic segments that often criticize Trump, read out the former president’s celebratory post to his studio audience. Trump had written:
“I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert!”
The audience booed the statement, after which Colbert offered a pointed response. In a sharp and satirical tone, he fired back:
“How dare you, sir? Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism? Go f*** yourself!”
The moment drew cheers from the audience and quickly spread across social media platforms.
Colbert’s public rebuttal came just days after he criticized CBS’s parent company, Paramount Global, for allegedly making a $16 million settlement payment to Trump. He referred to the payout as a “big fat bribe,” which some fans believe may have contributed to tension between the host and the network.
Fellow comedian Jon Stewart, who helped launch Colbert’s television career in the 1990s, voiced support for his former colleague. Stewart, currently hosting The Daily Show, suggested that CBS may be pulling back from political criticism, especially directed at Trump.
As Colbert approaches the final year of his show, he remains outspoken, continuing to mix satire, current events, and celebrity interviews—true to the format that made The Late Show a staple of late-night television.
