Overview
- Posting on Dec. 24–25, Trump labeled Colbert an “abject failure” and wrote that taking him off the air was “the only humane thing to do.”
- Coverage notes the outburst followed a CBS rerun of a Dec. 8 episode in which Colbert mocked a Kennedy Center renaming, with Variety reporting this as a possible trigger.
- Trump widened his criticism to late‑night hosts at ABC, CBS and NBC, questioned which was “worst,” and again floated revoking broadcast licenses.
- CBS announced in July that The Late Show will conclude in May 2026 for financial reasons; that same month the network agreed to pay Trump $16 million in a legal settlement, which Colbert derided on air.
- Past reactions included public support for Colbert and Senator Adam Schiff’s call for transparency about whether political motives influenced CBS’s decision.