What happens when one of late night’s sharpest voices suddenly gets silenced? Stephen Colbert answered that question head-on during his first monologue after learning The Late Show was being taken off the air—and he didn’t mince words.
With his trademark mix of wit and fire, Colbert opened the week with a blunt message for Donald Trump: “The gloves are off.”
Network Politics and a Surprise Shutdown
The announcement that The Late Show would end in May 2026 stunned fans and sparked outrage.
CBS, which owns the show and is currently under the Paramount umbrella, claimed the decision was purely financial.
But Colbert and others suspect otherwise.
Just days earlier, Colbert had openly criticized CBS for settling a lawsuit with Trump—allegedly paying $16 million to resolve claims over the editing of a 2024 interview with Kamala Harris.
The timing of the show’s cancellation couldn’t be more suspicious.
Especially considering Paramount’s ongoing $8 billion merger, which still needs sign-off from the Trump-controlled FCC.
“Go F*** Yourself,” Colbert Tells Trump
Not one to shy away from controversy, Colbert delivered one of the boldest takedowns of his career on Monday night.
Addressing Trump directly, he let loose: “Go f*** yourself.”
The audience roared with applause.
Trump, unsurprisingly, celebrated Colbert’s dismissal on Truth Social, writing, “I absolutely love that Colbert was fired.”
But the comedian turned the moment into a punchline, saying it had always been his dream as a young comic to be cheered on by a sitting president at the end of his career.
CBS Blames Finances—Colbert Isn’t Buying It
CBS tried to frame the cancellation as a money issue, leaking that The Late Show lost $40 million last year.
Colbert, however, took a swing at that claim, joking that he could maybe account for $24 million of that loss—“but I didn’t write the other $16 million check,” he quipped, clearly referencing the alleged Trump settlement.
Skewering Trump and the “Washington Epsteins”
In true Colbert fashion, the night’s show included a scathing segment mocking Trump’s latest obsession: renaming the Washington Commanders.
The bit joked that Trump wanted the team to revert to a name considered offensive to Native Americans—or worse, call them the “Washington Epsteins,” nodding to Trump’s ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein.
Colbert doubled down, digging into reports about their relationship, mixing grim facts with biting satire.
Fans Protest Outside the Studio
Outside the iconic Ed Sullivan Theater in Midtown Manhattan, fans showed up in force to back Colbert.
Signs like “Colbert Stays! Trump Must Go!” waved in the summer air.
Audience member Elizabeth Kott, a high school teacher, called the cancellation “terrible” and said it showed how corporations now “obey in advance” out of fear.
Celebrity Guests Speak Out
Colbert’s guests on Monday night didn’t stay quiet either.
Sandra Oh delivered an emotional tribute and even cursed CBS and Paramount, calling a “plague” down on them for cancelling the show.
Colbert’s lip trembled during her remarks, clearly moved.
Actor Dave Franco praised Colbert’s legacy, from The Daily Show days to his late-night dominance.
From Parody to Power: A Career of Satire and Truth
Colbert’s journey in comedy began with his character on The Daily Show—a pompous, right-wing parody who mocked conservative talking heads.
That persona carried him to The Colbert Report, and eventually to CBS, where he dropped the act and emerged as one of the most honest voices on late-night TV.
He became especially beloved during the pandemic, hosting from his own home and sharing genuine glimpses of family life with his wife Evelyn.
He offered comfort, clarity, and comedy at a time when many needed it most.
Refusing to Be Silenced
Although The Late Show is ending, Colbert made one thing crystal clear: he’s not done.
“They killed the show, not me,” he said defiantly.
And true to form, he skipped the usual Q&A session after the taping, telling his live audience, “I was nervous coming out here… I will miss you.”
A Legacy Bigger Than Ratings
Stephen Colbert has spent decades calling out power with humor, empathy, and razor-sharp intelligence.
His departure from network television may be politically motivated, but he’s unlikely to disappear from public life.
Whether or not The Late Show continues, Colbert’s voice still matters—and clearly, he’s far from finished.