Stephen Colbert Responds to Trump as His Show Faces Cancellation
Late-night host Stephen Colbert has fired back at President Donald Trump after the latter celebrated the news of Colbert’s show coming to an end.
Last Thursday, Colbert revealed that his late-night program would conclude in May of next year, prompting a congratulatory message from Trump.
“I absolutely love Colbert being fired. His talent was less than he rated. I’ve heard that Jimmy Kimmel is next: Even less talent than Colbert! NBC ruined the great Tonight Show once,” Trump remarked last Friday.
On Tuesday, Trump further stated, “The word is a strong word, it is a strong word. Jimmy Kimmel will be a serious late-night competitor, and Fallon will leave shortly afterwards.”
Colbert quickly responded to Trump’s message, challenging, “Will you dare to make the next satirical wit?”
In a more playful moment, Colbert dubbed himself the sole “martian,” claiming, “Kimmel, I’m a martian. There’s only one space on this cross, and the view from here is amazing. You can see your home.”
“They made one mistake and they kept me alive. The gloves are off for the next 10 months,” Colbert added. “I can ultimately speak truth to power and say what I really think about Donald Trump now. I don’t care about him.”
This announcement follows Colbert’s sharp criticism of CBS, particularly regarding a $16 million settlement involving the network and former President Trump. Colbert suggested this settlement could potentially influence the upcoming election.
“I’m offended. I don’t know if there’s anything to repair my trust in this company,” Colbert expressed. “But I think $16 million would help just by stabbing it.”
Colbert has since claimed that the settlement represents a “big fat bribe,” particularly as the Trump administration weighs a million-dollar merger agreement with Skydance Media.
In the meantime, CBS has shared that the decision to cancel Colbert’s show is primarily driven by financial reasons.
“Colbert hasn’t been attracting ads, and it’s a tough time slot for late-night TV,” an anonymous source familiar with CBS’s decision noted. “Colbert may be popular, but who’s really watching late-night TV?”
