TV host Stephen Colbert has strongly reacted to Donald Trump after the former president cheered the cancellation of The Late Show. Colbert addressed this on his Monday night show.
Colbert, known for his sharp political jokes, didn’t hold back in his monologue.
He said, “How dare you, sir? … Go f**k yourself,” in response to Trump’s message on Truth Social where Trump laughed at the news that The Late Show would end in May 2026.
With strong emotion, Colbert said he’s ready to speak more openly now. “I can finally say what I really think about Donald Trump, starting right now: I don’t care for him. The gloves are off,” he said.
The audience cheered loudly. Big names like Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, John Oliver, Jon Stewart, Adam Sandler, Andy Cohen, and CNN’s Anderson Cooper were present and showed support.
Jon Stewart also spoke up on The Daily Show, praising Colbert’s success. He criticized CBS’s parent company, Paramount Global, for paying Trump $16 million to settle an issue over a 60 Minutes interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. He called it “an extortion fee.”
Stewart didn’t believe CBS’s reason for cancelling Colbert’s show was just about money. He blamed fear and a desire to avoid trouble from Trump. He said many American companies are too scared to stand up to Trump’s behavior.
Last week, Colbert had already called the settlement a “big, fat bribe.” The announcement that his show is ending came shortly after that, which has made people question if politics played a role.
On The Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon said, “I don’t like what’s going on one bit,” joining others in concern.
Many stars, including Ben Stiller, Rachel Zegler, and Adam Scott, have shared how sad they are about Colbert leaving. Jimmy Kimmel reportedly also cursed at CBS over the decision.
However, not everyone agrees. Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, said Colbert was “arrogant” and believed the cancellation was just a business decision.
Colbert seems ready to end his show in his own way. He has led late-night ratings for years, especially during Trump’s presidency, and he’s not afraid to speak his mind as the end approaches.
