Rosie O’Donnell criticized President Donald Trump in a video on CBS and announced the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s Late Show. She remarked, “We are on the brink of full-scale fascism in the United States,” while speaking from her home in Ireland.
In her TikTok post on Friday, O’Donnell labeled Colbert as “courageous and brave,” describing him as having “one of the greatest hearts” in comedy. She went on to express alarm over President Trump’s claim that he would “arrest all artists who don’t agree with him.”
O’Donnell alleged in her TikTok video that CBS canceled Late Show over Trump-related content in what she described as a typical left-wing approach, while the network justified its decision as purely financial.
The comedian attempted to link the cancellation to Colbert’s criticism of CBS’ parent company, Paramount, particularly following Colbert’s $16 million settlement with Trump. In a 60 Minutes interview, the former Vice President Kamala Harris referred to this as a “big fat bribe.”
Additionally, O’Donnell claimed CBS sent out “scary mail” before they proceeded to stoke fears about other shows and hosts.
“How much time does 60 Minutes have left? How many John Stewarts are out there?” O’Donnell questioned.
She proceeded to label Trump as a “madman spiraling out of control,” expressing hope that Colbert would transition to YouTube without corporate interference.
“Americans stood up and said, ‘You can’t silence us. You never could. We have the right to oppose the daily atrocities,'” O’Donnell declared, suggesting that free speech has been compromised.
Continuing her remarks, she compared U.S. laws to the Nazi German secret police, referring to Trump’s actions as “my personal Gestapo.”
“He’s going to arrest all artists who oppose him,” she expressed her concerns about the president.
“We need to take to the streets. Don’t go home until he’s done,” O’Donnell said, hinting at Trump’s survival from two assassination attempts last year after Democrats labeled him a fascist dictator.
She reiterated, “We are on the edge of full-scale fascism in the United States,” sharing this perspective with her 2.8 million TikTok followers.
Then, in a somewhat paranoid tone, O’Donnell insisted, “We are the majority, no matter what they say,” despite Trump’s significant victory in the 2024 election.
“This is our country, not Donald Trump,” she added, while commenting from her home in Ireland.
According to reports, the ending of Colbert’s Late Show in May 2026 marks a significant shift in late-night TV amidst the rise of streaming platforms, which have attracted younger audiences seeking new media over traditional programs.
