Donald Trump Slams Stephen Colbert as ‘a Pathetic Trainwreck’, Says CBS Should ‘Put Him to Sleep’
Donald Trump’s Scathing Critique of Stephen Colbert
In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform on December 24, 2025, former President Donald Trump launched a fierce attack on late-night host Stephen Colbert and his show, *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert*. Trump described Colbert as “a pathetic trainwreck” and accused him of having “no talent or anything else necessary for show business success.” This public condemnation came shortly after CBS aired a rerun of Colbert’s December 8 episode following *The Kennedy Center Honors* broadcast, which Trump had hosted.
Trump’s comments were not just limited to personal insults. He suggested that CBS should immediately cancel *The Late Show*, which is already slated to end in 2026, calling Colbert “a dead man walking” and urging the network to “put him to sleep” as a humanitarian act. The former president’s remarks have reignited debates about the future of late-night television and the role of political commentary within it.
The Background of the Feud Between Trump and Colbert
The animosity between Trump and Colbert has been simmering for years, with the late-night host frequently criticizing the former president’s policies and behavior. The tension escalated in July 2025 when Colbert announced that his show would conclude in May 2026 after a decade on air. Trump dismissed this decision as a “big fat bribe,” alluding to a controversial $16 million settlement between CBS’s parent company, Paramount, and Trump’s legal team.
This settlement followed a legal dispute involving a 2024 interview with Kamala Harris, Trump’s presidential election opponent, which Colbert had publicly criticized. The timing of the settlement coincided with Paramount’s merger with Skydance, a deal requiring approval from the Trump administration. Shortly after the merger’s completion in August 2025, CBS confirmed the cancellation of *The Late Show*, citing financial reasons amid a challenging late-night TV landscape.
Trump has repeatedly celebrated the cancellation, claiming it signals a broader shake-up in late-night television. He also targeted other hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon, predicting their shows would be canceled soon due to low ratings and lack of talent.
Implications for Late-Night Television and CBS
The public feud between Trump and Colbert highlights the increasingly polarized nature of late-night television, where political commentary often sparks heated reactions from public figures. CBS’s decision to end *The Late Show* has been framed as a financial move rather than a response to content or political pressure. However, Trump’s vocal criticism and the surrounding controversies have cast a spotlight on the network’s programming choices.
Late-night shows have traditionally balanced humor with political satire, but the current climate has intensified scrutiny over the hosts’ political leanings and their impact on viewership. Trump’s assertion that networks with “high salaries, no talent, and really low ratings” should lose their broadcast licenses reflects a growing demand for accountability in media.
As CBS prepares to transition away from *The Late Show*, the network faces the challenge of maintaining audience engagement while navigating political sensitivities. The future of late-night programming remains uncertain, with viewers and industry insiders closely watching how networks respond to shifting tastes and external pressures.
Conclusion
Donald Trump’s harsh criticism of Stephen Colbert underscores the contentious relationship between politics and entertainment in today’s media landscape. By labeling Colbert “a pathetic trainwreck” and urging CBS to end his show immediately, Trump has intensified the debate over late-night television’s direction and the influence of political bias. Whether CBS will heed Trump’s call remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the battle for late-night dominance is far from over.
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