Trump Pressures CBS for Immediate Colbert Removal Ahead of Scheduled Departure

2025-12-25 politics

New York, Wednesday, 24 December 2025.
President Trump demands CBS immediately “put to sleep” Stephen Colbert’s show, escalating tensions by suggesting broadcast license revocations for networks airing negative coverage ahead of the host’s planned May departure.

Executive Pressure on Holiday Programming

On Wednesday, December 24, 2025, President Donald Trump intensified his criticism of late-night television, specifically targeting CBS host Stephen Colbert in a series of social media posts. Writing on Truth Social just after midnight, the President characterized Colbert as a “dead man walking” and explicitly demanded that the network “put him to sleep” immediately [4][6]. While CBS had previously announced in July 2025 that “The Late Show” would conclude its run, the network’s schedule currently retains the program until May 2026 [1][6]. President Trump’s statements signal a refusal to wait for this planned transition, describing the host as a “pathetic trainwreck” operating on “hatred and fumes” [2][8].

Broadcast Licenses and Political Retaliation

The President’s commentary extended beyond personal insults to systemic threats against major broadcasters. In his Wednesday morning remarks, President Trump raised the possibility of revoking broadcast licenses for networks that air content critical of his administration. He posited that if newscasts and late-night shows are “almost 100% Negative” toward him and the Republican Party, their licenses should be terminated, answering his own rhetorical question with, “I say, YES!” [3][4]. This escalation follows the December 23 broadcast of the Kennedy Center Honors on CBS, an event hosted by President Trump following his installation as chair of the Kennedy Center’s board [3]. Colbert had previously mocked this takeover in a December 8 episode, noting it was the first ceremony since the leadership change [3].

The Intersection of Corporate Decisions and Governance

The friction between the White House and CBS occurs against a backdrop of significant corporate shifts at Paramount Global, the parent company of the network. When CBS announced the cancellation of Colbert’s show in July 2025, the network cited financial reasons for the decision [2]. However, analysts noted that this announcement came only weeks after Paramount agreed to settle a high-profile lawsuit brought by President Trump [2]. Furthermore, the media landscape is currently navigating the aftermath of the Skydance merger with Paramount, which was closing as of July 2025 [1]. The President has publicly celebrated the pending cancellation, claiming that Colbert’s “talent was even less than his ratings” [4].

Broader Implications for Late-Night Television

President Trump’s criticism is not isolated to Stephen Colbert; he also directed ire toward ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel. The President referenced Kimmel’s suspension in September 2025, which occurred after the host made controversial comments regarding the alleged assassin of conservative activist Charlie Kirk [4][6]. Although Kimmel returned to the air after a one-week hiatus, President Trump expressed disbelief at the reinstatement, suggesting it might constitute an “Illegal Campaign Contribution” and threatening legal action against ABC [6]. Following this tirade against the late-night hosts on Christmas Eve, the President abruptly shifted his tone to wish his followers a “MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!” [8]. As “The Late Show” enters its final months before the projected May 2026 conclusion, the pressure from the Executive Branch presents a complex challenge for CBS’s programming strategy [1][3].

Sources

Media Industry Political Pressure