‘Jimmy Kimmel is next': Donald Trump gloats over Stephen Colbert's cancellation
'I absolutely love that Colbert' got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings,' Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, per Variety. 'I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert!'
Kimmel and Trump have been feuding for years, Decider reports.
Not only did Trump blast Kimmel's time hosting the Oscars in 2024, but the late night host has spent almost every single evening on Jimmy Kimmel Live criticising Trump's politics in recent months. Kimmel was even moved to tears after Trump won the presidency in 2024, calling this a 'terrible night' for democracy and claiming he's on Trump's 'list of enemies.'
Trump also took a shot at Jimmy Fallon while praising Fox News late night host Greg Gutfield.
'Greg Gutfield is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show,' he wrote.
CBS announced it made the 'financial decision' to cancel The Late Show in a press release shared Thursday (July 17). The show is set to end in May 2026.
'We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise at that time. We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television,' the statement reads, per The Hollywood Reporter. 'This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.'
The decision comes just days after Colbert criticised CBS' parent company for reaching a US$16 million (AU$24.5 million) settlement with President Trump after Trump accused 60 Minutes of editing an interview with Kamala Harris to mislead voters during the presidential election. Paramount is currently in the middle of a merger with Skydance Media that will require approval from Trump's administration.
'I don't know if anything — anything — will repair my trust in this company,' Colbert said on The Late Show earlier this week. 'But, just taking a stab at it, I'd say $16 million would help.'
Kimmel wasted no time in speaking out in support of Colbert. 'Love you Stephen. F**k you and all your Sheldons CBS,' he wrote on Instagram.
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