Donald Trump Slams Stephen Colbert (Again) as ‘Pathetic Trainwreck,’ Calls for CBS to Cancel Show Immediately
Donald Trump attacked Stephen Colbert on social, calling the late-night host a “pathetic trainwreck” and demanding CBS cancel “The Late Show” immediately. Trump’s posts came hours after CBS aired the Kennedy Center Honors, which the president recently hosted.
Trump posted on Truth Social, “Stephen Colbert is a pathetic trainwreck, with no talent or anything else necessary for show business success. Now, after being terminated by CBS, but left out to dry, he has actually gotten worse, along with his nonexistent ratings. Stephen is running on hatred and fumes ~ A dead man walking! CBS should, ‘put him to sleep,’ NOW, it is the humanitarian thing to do!”
He later added, “Who has the worst Late Night host, CBS, ABC, or NBC??? They all have three things in common: High Salaries, No Talent, REALLY LOW RATINGS!”
Trump also suggested that networks should lose their broadcast licenses if their programming is consistently negative toward him and the Republican Party. He concluded his posts with a festive note: “MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!”
The latest CBS broadcast of Colbert’s show on Dec. 23 was a rerun, originally aired on Dec. 8. During that episode, Colbert poked fun at Trump’s role in the Kennedy Center Honors. He joked about Trump taking over hosting duties and criticized his leadership style, saying, “It seems like the commander-in-chief shouldn’t have enough time to run a theater. ‘Mr. President, Russia has just launched another round of missiles. But first, dress rehearsal for ‘Oklahoma’ is underway, and the blocking is uninspired.’”
Colbert also made light of Trump’s FIFA Peace Prize and other unusual accolades, comparing the award to receiving a misleading Christmas gift. He even referenced Trump’s earlier comments comparing himself to Jimmy Kimmel, pointing out the president had confused the two comedians.
The feud between Trump and Colbert has a long history. After CBS announced “The Late Show” would end in May 2026, Trump celebrated the news online. Colbert responded on air with a censored expletive aimed directly at the president. CBS has repeatedly stated that the show’s cancellation is a financial decision due to declining late-night viewership.
Even with Trump renaming the venue to the “Trump Kennedy Center,” CBS largely continued using the original name in its coverage. According to the Washington Post, CBS staff were instructed to refer to the traditional Kennedy Center name unless quoting the president or his officials.
The back-and-forth between Trump and Colbert highlights the ongoing tension between political figures and late-night comedy, particularly as Colbert nears the end of his tenure at CBS.
This feud shows how late-night shows continue to play a key role in shaping public perception of political figures. Colbert’s satire clearly irritates Trump, but it also draws attention to the influence of comedy in political commentary. What do you think about this clash between Trump and Colbert? Share your thoughts in the comments.
