CBS announced the upcoming cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, prompting several Democrat lawmakers to suggest [1] political motivations behind the decision.
The network attributed the move to financial considerations, but comments from senators and left-wing figures speculated that the Trump administration may have influenced the outcome.
On Thursday, host Stephen Colbert confirmed that The Late Show would end after May 2026, with CBS deciding not to renew the program for another season.
Stephen Colbert announcing to his audience that his show has been cancelled.
pic.twitter.com/dWpu6BORLc [2]
— Pop Base (@PopBase) July 18, 2025 [3]
A spokesperson for CBS described the decision as a “purely financial” one.
The announcement sparked immediate reaction from Democrat senators, some of whom linked the show’s cancellation to recent criticism Colbert had aimed at CBS’ parent company, Paramount.
Just days before the announcement, Colbert referenced the company’s $16 million legal settlement with President Donald Trump over a 2024 60 Minutes interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
“CBS canceled Colbert’s show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump — a deal that looks like bribery,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) wrote.
“America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.”
Have you seen the ratings?
— BTC Bro (@BTC_broo) July 18, 2025 [4]
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) echoed Warren’s remarks in a post on X, writing, “If Paramount and CBS ended The Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better.”
It could be that his show sucked and the ratings were terrible.
— Planet Of Memes (@PlanetOfMemes) July 18, 2025 [5]
“CBS sells out… again,” added Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), also posting to X.
….or was it the ratings?
— Corey Gibson (@CoreyGibson) July 18, 2025 [6]
Online, several liberal commentators and users shared similar sentiments.
Film journalist Daniel Howat wrote, “This is a political favor to Trump, plain and simple.”
CBS/Skydance wouldn’t cancel a show that was profitable…take a class in economics
— West Texas Patriot (@westtxbearkat) July 18, 2025 [7]
Another user on X questioned, “It’s a complete coincidence that this comes on the heels of CBS bowing to Trump’s demands and Colbert mocking them for it?”
His contract is up next year. It takes 200 employees (Colbert’s count) to produce 5 hours/week of content. That’s not financially viable in today’s world of broadcast, streaming, etc. @gutfeldfox [8] has more viewers with a fraction of the expenses. If it was his politics, they…
— Data Please (@Datapleaz) July 18, 2025 [9]
Additional posts accused CBS of retaliation against Colbert for criticizing Trump.
“So, we’re all pretty much agreed that CBS cancelled The Late Show because Mr. Colbert calls out Trump’s bullshit, right?” wrote one user.
I’d assume they did it to make money or reduce financial risk to executives and shareholders.
It’s called corporate media for a reason.
— Zev Waldman MD (@ZevWaldman) July 18, 2025 [10]
However, critics of Colbert pushed back against the political angle, suggesting that the show was canceled due to its waning relevance and declining ratings.
“Colbert abandoned the precious gift of making everyone laugh in favor of nasty pandering to deranged leftists,” said radio and television host Buck Sexton.
“It was selfish and cowardly. He richly deserves the cancellation of his shitty show.”
Colbert abandoned the precious gift of making everyone laugh in favor of nasty pandering to deranged leftists. It was selfish and cowardly. He richly deserves the cancellation of his shitty show. https://t.co/Qk5BbPgbz7 [11]
— Buck Sexton (@BuckSexton) July 18, 2025 [12]
Another user posted, “If you can look at this photo and still not understand why Colbert was canceled, you’re in the mother of all political bubbles,” referencing a screenshot of a 2021 segment in which Colbert performed a musical number about the COVID-19 vaccine.
If you can look at this photo and still not understand why Colbert was cancelled, you’re in the mother of all political bubbles. pic.twitter.com/fQcMd6GiNf [13]
— John Ekdahl (@JohnEkdahl) July 18, 2025 [14]
Some critics mocked Schiff’s concern by targeting Colbert’s viewership.
“Colbert is barely drawing 2.0 ratings. His share of the 18-49 demographic is 200k. Mid-tier YouTubers triple that,” one X user wrote.
“He didn’t get canceled for ‘political reasons.’ He got canceled because Late Night TV is deader than Elvis.”
My man.
Colbert is barely drawing 2.0 ratings.
His share of the 18-49 demographic is 200k.
Mid-tier YouTubers triple that.He didn’t get canceled for “political reasons”.
He got canceled because Late Night TV is deader than Elvis. pic.twitter.com/dlnLsP0bIY [15]— RazörFist (@RAZ0RFIST) July 18, 2025 [16]
Others made light of the reaction from Democrat lawmakers. “If Stephen Colbert can’t get paid millions to make bad jokes on TV anymore, our democracy is already lost,” one user joked.
If Stephen Colbert can’t get paid millions to make bad jokes on TV anymore, our democracy is already lost. https://t.co/NNZIwuIgeu [17]
— Isaac Schorr (@isaac_schorr) July 17, 2025 [18]
Another added, “The complete lack of self-awareness is funnier than Colbert ever was.”
The complete lack of self-awareness is funnier than Colbert ever was.
Also- Who watches late night comedy tv for the political guests, anyway? pic.twitter.com/SrvuPvZCqa [19]
— Jason “Storm Chaser” Nelson (@RealJasonNelson) July 17, 2025 [20]
According to a report from Breitbart News, the cancellation of The Late Show reflects a broader trend in the decline of traditional late-night television.
As streaming platforms and independent content creators gain popularity among younger audiences, long-running network talk shows have seen steep drops in viewership and cultural relevance.