Radio host Charlamagne tha God has accused former President Donald Trump of employing authoritarian tactics, arguing that the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show With Stephen Colbert by CBS and its parent company Paramount is part of a broader strategy to silence media critics. The show was abruptly ended in spring 2026, following a settlement between Trump and Paramount over election interference allegations.
Charlamagne labeled CBS and Paramount as the ‘Donkey of the Day,’ suggesting their decision to axe Colbert’s show is a direct response to his public criticism of the Trump-Paramount agreement. The network’s parent company, Paramount, had earlier settled with Trump after he sued over a 60 Minutes interview edit of Vice President Kamala Harris. Charlamagne dismissed this as ‘hush money’ and argued that the cancellation of Colbert’s show is a direct consequence of his dissent against the Trump administration.
He described the situation as a textbook case of authoritarian rule, where the media is being used as a tool to suppress dissent. Charlamagne claimed the cancellation is a warning to other media outlets that criticizing Trump could come at a cost, including job loss or loss of editorial control. His comments reflect growing concerns about the control of media and the potential for authoritarian tactics in the U.S. political landscape.
While CBS defended the cancellation as a purely financial decision, critics, including several top Democrats, argue that the political climate was the real driving force behind the move. White House Spokesman Kush Desai dismissed Colbert’s ‘comedy’ as unoriginal and not funny. Meanwhile, Trump has openly celebrated the cancellation and has criticized both Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel for their lack of talent.
Fox News Channel’s Gutfeld! has surged to become late-night’s highest-rated program. In the second quarter of 2025, the show, hosted by Fox star Greg Gutfeld, notched 3 million viewers and 365,000 in the 25-54 age demographic at the 10 p.m. ET hour. In addition to routing cable news competition, Gutfeld! outpaced all broadcast and late-night television, including The Late Show and other such established programs.
However, the ongoing debate over the cancellation of The Late Show highlights the broader tensions within the media landscape and the role of corporate influence in shaping public discourse. As the situation continues to unfold, the implications for free speech and media independence remain a major point of contention.