President Donald Trump has publicly stated that the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s late-night show by CBS signals that his administration may have played a role in the potential cancellation of ABC’s ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ and NBC’s ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.’
On his Truth Social platform, Trump remarked that the cancellation was a strong indicator of a larger trend, suggesting that the networks are following CBS’s lead in axing what he called ‘untalented’ late-night hosts. He described the situation as ‘a strong word’ in the ‘Late Night Sweepstakes,’ with Kimmel and Fallon scheduled to be next.
Trump’s comments were met with sharp criticism from Colbert, who responded to his remarks on the opening monologue of his show, retorting, ‘How dare you, sir? Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism? Go f— yourself.’ Colbert also joked about Trump’s prediction, stating, ‘Absolutely not, Kimmel. I am the martyr, OK? There’s only room for one on this cross, and I got to tell you, the view is fantastic from up here!’
Furthermore, Trump expressed relief over Colbert’s cancellation, calling it ‘absolutely love’ and criticizing the comedian for his lack of talent. ‘His talent was even less than his ratings,’ Trump tweeted, ‘I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert! Greg Gutfeld is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show.’
Analysts have noted that while Trump’s statements have sparked debates surrounding his influence on media decisions, it’s unlikely that he has direct control over network programming. The CBS cancellation was cited as a purely financial decision, with the network noting that the show was ‘losing’ $40 million per year. However, Trump’s comments have fueled speculation about the role of political considerations in such decisions.
As the media landscape continues to evolve, the debate over late-night programming remains a focal point, with critics arguing that the cancellation of Colbert’s show was a result of broader corporate strategies rather than a direct political maneuver. The ongoing influence of Trump’s media commentary continues to shape public discourse around network programming and its role in American culture.