Trump Claims Victory Over Colbert, Targets Late Night Hosts in Aggressive Rant

Donald Trump has declared he "took out" Stephen Colbert, boasting about his supposed victories over various political figures.

On June 1, the U.S. president unleashed a tirade on his Truth Social platform, claiming to have eliminated "many bad Political 'Leaders'" and pundits. He specifically named Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Lightweight 'Congressman' Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Brad Raffensperger of Georgia, and the "REALLY DUMB" Stephen Colbert of CBS.

Trump's self-proclaimed score for the last two weeks stands at 38-0. He hinted at targeting more late-night hosts, singling out "three more limping Late Night Talk Show Hosts," including "Low Ratings" Bill Maher and his "Fake 'Laughing Machine."

He wrapped up his post with a self-congratulatory note: "It is my Honor to be working so hard for our Country! President DONALD J. TRUMP."

In addition to Maher, Trump may be eyeing Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver—all known for their critical takes on the Trump administration.

These late-night hosts had previously mocked Trump during a joint appearance on The Late Show just days before its finale.

Colbert's final episode aired on May 21. Kimmel is the latest comedian Trump has called for firing after First Lady Melania took offense to Kimmel's jokes at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Colbert learned of his show's cancellation in July 2025 after criticizing Trump and Paramount over a $16 million settlement related to a lawsuit concerning a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 election.

Colbert remarked, “I believe this kind of complicated financial settlement with a sitting government official has a technical name in legal circles: it’s 'big, fat bribe.’”

Just three days after Trump's post, CBS announced the cancellation of Colbert's show, stating it would conclude in May 2026. The network described the host as "irreplaceable" while citing financial issues as the reason for the termination.

On Truth Social, Trump appeared to acknowledge his influence over CBS' decision but denied full responsibility. He stated, "Everybody is saying that I was solely responsible for the firing of Stephen Colbert from CBS' Late Night. That is not true!"

He concluded with a sharp critique: “The reason he was fired was a pure lack of TALENT, and the fact that this deficiency was costing CBS $50 Million Dollars a year in losses — and it was only going to get WORSE!”