President Donald Trump reportedly marked the end of Stephen Colbert’s lengthy tenure at “The Late Show” with a blistering social media post Thursday night, reviving his years-long feud with the late-night comedian after CBS officially closed the curtain on the program.
“Colbert is finally finished at CBS. Amazing that he lasted so long!” Trump wrote early Friday on Truth Social.
The president continued his criticism in characteristically sharp fashion, writing, “No talent, no ratings, no life. He was like a dead person. You could take any person off of the street and they would be better than this total jerk. Thank goodness he’s finally gone!”
Trump has repeatedly targeted late-night television hosts who used their platforms to criticize his administration, often arguing that the genre drifted away from entertainment and deeper into partisan political commentary. Over the years, Colbert became one of the president’s most vocal television critics, regularly dedicating monologues to mocking Trump and Republican politics.
CBS parent company Paramount Global — now operating under Paramount Skydance following its merger — announced last year that “The Late Show” would be canceled after Colbert’s run. The company maintained the decision was driven strictly by financial concerns tied to the increasingly difficult late-night television market.
“This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night,” the company said at the time. “It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”
Trump openly celebrated the cancellation when the news first broke, posting on Truth Social, “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired.”
Still, critics questioned whether politics played a role behind the scenes. Some pointed to the Trump administration’s regulatory oversight during the merger between Paramount and Skydance Media, along with a separate $16 million settlement involving CBS and the president over a “60 Minutes” interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris.
“The Late Show” originally debuted in 1993 under legendary host David Letterman, becoming one of the defining programs in late-night television. Colbert took over in September 2015, bringing a more openly political style that reflected the increasingly polarized atmosphere in American media and culture.
In his final monologue Thursday night, Colbert struck a more reflective tone, thanking viewers and staff members who had worked alongside him during the show’s final years.
“We were lucky enough to be here for the last 11 years,” Colbert told the audience. “You can’t take this for granted.”
The final broadcast leaned more toward nostalgia than confrontation. Colbert largely avoided direct attacks on Trump during the episode, instead delivering lighter jokes and celebrating the show’s long run alongside colleagues and celebrity guests.
The finale included appearances from actors and comedians including Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Ryan Reynolds, and Tig Notaro.
Music icon Paul McCartney served as Colbert’s final guest. The show closed with the pair performing “Hello, Goodbye” by The Beatles, as Colbert’s family and crew joined them on stage for a farewell moment marking the end of a television institution.
For many conservatives, Colbert’s departure symbolizes the fading influence of an era where late-night comedy increasingly blurred into political activism. At the same time, the collapse of another major network staple also reflects the broader struggles facing legacy television as audiences continue moving away from traditional media and toward a more fractured entertainment landscape.
