CNN anchor Jake Tapper has taken aim at Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, over its choice to cancel the “Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” He asserts that the decision is a way to appease President Trump.
“It’s clear that President Trump dislikes being the target of jokes, especially those from comedians like Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel,” he noted.
“We live in a country where the first amendment protects our right to mock the president, so don’t underestimate the sensitivity of this leader,” he added.
On Thursday evening, CBS announced that “Late Show” would end in May 2026.
The network explained, “This is a purely financial decision amidst difficult circumstances in late-night television. It isn’t connected to the show’s content or any performance issues at Paramount.”
This news follows a recent interview featuring former Vice President Harris regarding the 2024 presidential election. Harris has reached a $16 million settlement with Trump related to a lawsuit from “60 Minutes.” GOP nominees had criticized the network following that episode, prompting the release of the full interview transcript later.
Colbert has often targeted Trump in his segments, and he even expressed frustration toward his own network about the settlement news. “I think there’s a specific term in legal circles for this kind of deal with government officials—it’s a big, fatty covenant,” he quipped.
Moreover, Paramount’s actions hinge on receiving approval from the Federal Communications Commission as it nears a multi-billion dollar merger with Skydance, an entertainment media company.
Tapper remarked on Friday that the potential cancellation of the “Late Show” appears to be an effort to placate Trump, especially as Paramount’s Shelley Redstone seeks a favorable merger.
Trump, for his part, celebrated the news, suggesting that Colbert’s skills didn’t meet his expectations.
In the meantime, various media figures and Senate Democrats have criticized the cancellation, with some calling for an investigation into CBS’s motives. The U.S. Eastern and West Writers Guild has urged New York Attorney General Letitia James to look into the reasons behind the show’s cancellation and whether it was part of a strategy to benefit Paramount.
