In news that has shocked American television and sparked discussions on social media, CBS has decided to cancel "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" after the current season ends in May 2026.
The decision comes just days after Stephen Colbert openly criticized a $16 million deal between Donald Trump and CBS parent company Paramount, which many see as a sign that politics and money are directly influencing late-night television programming.
Stephen Colbert, known for his blunt humor and frequent mockery of Donald Trump, called the deal a “big scam.” The deal is reportedly intended to stop Trump from publicly attacking Paramount executives during the coming political seasons.
Just three days after Colbert's criticism, the network decided to close the program, which since 2015 has been one of the most watched late-night shows in America.
Donald Trump described the decision as a personal victory and in a post on his social media account, Truth Social, called Colbert “boring.” He also said that Jimmy Kimmel, another popular host, would also be leaving soon.
Many political and media figures criticized the banning of the program as a political act and a blow to freedom of expression. Senator Elizabeth Warren called the decision “shameful” and warned that it was allowing “political campaign money to influence the content of the national media.”
CBS, on the other hand, denied any political ties to the decision and said the main reason is the changing television market and declining late-night advertising revenue. They said audiences are shifting to platforms like TikTok and YouTube.
Stephen Colbert has yet to publicly comment on the decision, but sources close to the show say he is “shocked but not surprised.” He will continue on the show until May 2026 and could move on to independent productions or digital platforms, where he will continue to use humor to comment on politics.
