Reactions to the cancellation of “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” have largely split along partisan lines. President Trump expressed satisfaction, while many Democrats, liberal journalists, and celebrities voiced their disappointment, criticizing CBS for not backing progressive favorites.
Since taking over in 2015, Colbert transformed the “Late Show” into a platform rife with partisanship. He frequently welcomed Democratic guests while delivering numerous jokes that criticized Trump and his administration. It even came to a point where Colbert played a role in a fundraiser for Joe Biden.
Some notable moments from his time hosting include, in the summer of 2020, when he emotionally admitted that after Michelle Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention, he struggled to find anything funny to say. “I’ve never made my job even happier,” he remarked, expressing his relief and hope after years of fearing Trump would compromise American values.
In another instance, Colbert hosted a concert where he danced with Senator Chuck Schumer. This performance received backlash as it aired just after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, a chaotic time when many Americans were left stranded after the Taliban regained control.
Colbert celebrated Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory with genuine joy, pouring champagne and exclaiming, “Joe Biden did it! He’s our next president!” His contrasting reactions to Trump’s wins were heavy with disappointment. In 2016, he described the election night outcome as “scary,” mentioning the toxicity of American politics, while in 2024, he confessed to losing faith in humanity after Trump’s resurgence.
In March 2024, Colbert played a key role in a star-studded fundraiser for Biden, securing $26 million for his reelection campaign. Among the attendees were high-profile celebrities, and Colbert set a lighthearted tone by asking cheeky questions about life in the White House.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Colbert focused on promoting vaccinations through various skits, although some found his approach off-putting. When the studio audience returned, he performed a comical routine that included the word “vaccinations” set to a lively song, eliciting mixed reactions from the audience.
Lastly, Colbert faced a challenging moment during a discussion with Jon Stewart regarding the lab leak theory surrounding the origins of COVID-19. Stewart quipped about the oddity of the virus’s name and its connection to a lab in Wuhan, leaving Colbert visibly uncomfortable.
