When Stephen Colbert sat in David Letterman's chair in 2015, CBS's ratings did not skyrocket. On the contrary - the comedian, known for his satirical show The Colbert Report, his obsession with Tolkien and "The Lord of the Rings" and his outspoken political positions, had a hard time competing with other evening shows in the US, which, although they never shied away from politics, won viewers with funny games and celebrity segments.
During this period, Donald Trump was first elected as the Republican candidate for president, and then surprisingly won the election. Almost every evening show in the US begins with the host's funny and sarcastic commentary on current events. However, Colbert made them his trademark. His biting humor, his disagreement with Trump's policies and his advocacy of positions in support of democratic freedoms and groups in society targeted by the president's administration turned "The Late Show" into a leader. It even surpassed the shows of Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel in viewership. And so on until 2025, when CBS announced that it was taking it off the air. In May 2026, Colbert will appear for the last time at the "Ed Sullivan" Theater. The official reason is financial, but the reactions in the US are violent.
The war between Colbert and Trump
"I love you, Stephen", wrote his colleague Jimmy Kimmel after the news was officially announced. Kimmel also sent a direct message to CBS: "F*ck him."
What's the problem? Paramount is seeking approval from the US Federal Communications Commission to merge with another media company, Skydance. The commission is subordinate to the US president, who nominates its members. And there are very few people in this world who have angered the current US president as much as Colbert.
Over the years, Trump has called the popular host a "scumbag" who has "no talent". Colbert himself has been harshly critical of his administration's behavior and has invited opponents of the president on his show. Those close to Trump have already admired the decision to take Colbert's show off the air.
Capitulation to Trump?
Recently, Paramount took another controversial step. The company paid Trump $16 million in an out-of-court settlement in a lawsuit the president was waging against the iconic news program "60 Minutes". According to Trump, the show's crew staged an interview with his rival Kamala Harris to "tip the scales in favor of the Democratic Party". CBS responded that Trump's claims were baseless. Paramount, however, reached an agreement with the president, and Colbert called the agreement "a big fat bribe" on the air.
That's why the official reasons that the media giant puts forward - "a purely financial decision made because of the difficult situation in the evening shows" - are being questioned by many. Paramount's arguments are supported by decisions by a number of companies in recent years to stop their live late-night commentary shows due to changing audience behavior and the dominance of streaming platforms. But doubts remain. "If Paramount and CBS ended "The Tonight Show" for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves more," commented Democratic Senator Adam Schiff. "The financial side of this business is definitely under pressure, as CBS claims, but if CBS thinks it can get away with capitulating to Trump without serious suspicion, it is seriously mistaken."
On his last show, Colbert broke the news to the "Ed Sullivan" audience, which reacted with boos. "Yes, I share your sentiments," he replied.