What To Know
- After Stephen Colbert’s final episode of The Late Show, Donald Trump celebrated his departure and criticized his talent and ratings.
- Despite Trump’s claims, Colbert’s Late Show led late-night ratings for nine years.
- Other political figures, including Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, praised Colbert for his wit, thoughtfulness, and impact.
After Stephen Colbert said goodbye to The Late Show for the final time on Thursday night (May 21), President Donald Trump took to social media to celebrate the host losing his job.
At 1:52 a.m., around an hour after the Late Show finale concluded, Trump wrote on Truth Social, “Colbert is finally finished at CBS. Amazing that he lasted so long! No talent, no ratings, no life. He was like a dead person. You could take any person off of the street and they would be better than this total jerk. Thank goodness he’s finally gone!”
Despite Trump’s claims, Colbert has held the No. 1 spot ahead of his fellow broadcast late-night hosts for the past 9 years, surpassing The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2017. The Late Show has led in both total viewers and the coveted Adults 18-49 demographic.
The ratings success made the show’s cancelation all the more shocking. Last July, CBS previously cited financial reasons for axing The Late Show, claiming the show loses $40 million annually. At the time, some critics argued the axing was politically motivated, with parent company Paramount hoping to appease Trump amid its merger with Skydance, which required government approval.
While Trump was happy to see the show come to an end, other political figures paid their respects to Colbert, including former President Joe Biden, who has appeared on the show six times throughout the years.
“There aren’t many who can make people think and laugh at the same time,” Biden wrote on Instagram. “For years, Stephen brought wit, heart, and honesty to late night television. America could always count on a laugh — and sometimes a needed reality check. Congrats on an incredible run, my friend.”
Trump’s 2016 presidential election opponent, Hillary Clinton, also honored the show, writing on Instagram, “Every time I sat across the desk from @colbertlateshow, I knew we’d have a conversation that was about more than just getting laughs.”
The former first lady added, “Alongside his great wit, Stephen brought deep thoughtfulness, empathy, and humility to the late-night stage. Here’s to a next chapter as brilliant as the last.”
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