Stephen Colbert Departs Late Night Amid Political Tension

Stephen Colbert has concluded his tenure as the host of The Late Show on CBS, with the final episode of the long-running late-night program airing on May 21, 2026.

Colbert served as the host of the network’s flagship late-night show for 11 years. According to CBS, the decision to cancel the program was purely a financial decision.

While Colbert noted that the economic collapse of traditional broadcast television models likely contributed to the cancellation, he also acknowledged that many believe other factors were involved.

Legal Settlements and Corporate Mergers

The cancellation of the show followed a period of significant legal and corporate activity involving CBS and its owner, Paramount. Days before the announcement, CBS and Paramount agreed to pay $16 million to resolve a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump.

Colbert described this settlement on his program as a big fat bribe.

The settlement and the end of The Late Show occurred alongside Paramount’s plans to acquire the movie studio Skydance. This multibillion-dollar merger required the approval of the United States government.

Political Friction and Reactions

Colbert, a well-known critic of President Trump, saw the president openly celebrate the conclusion of his show. In a Truth Social post dated July 18, the president expressed his approval of the move.

I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. He has even less talent than Colbert!

President Donald Trump

Despite the political tensions, The Late Show remained a dominant force in late-night television, maintaining its position as the most-watched program in its time slot.

The end of the program marks a significant shift for CBS, as the network will not be replacing the host, but rather removing the program entirely from its schedule.