Trump was 'personally involved' in canceling Stephen Colbert, longtime late night reporter claims
Yahoo • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Reporter Bill Carter claimed President Donald Trump was "personally involved" in the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's show, citing Trump's response to the series finale and an AI-generated video Trump posted depicting Colbert being thrown into a dumpster.
- Carter criticized CBS for allegedly capitulating to the Trump administration, suggesting the network's cancellation decision was not solely financial but influenced by political pressure and a desire to avoid controversy.
- Carter argued that the government's push to remove Colbert, a vocal Trump critic, undermines American values of free speech and independent journalism, warning this sets a troubling precedent.
- "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" ended on May 21, with CBS citing financial losses of around $40 million per year; Colbert frequently targeted Trump, making thousands of jokes about him in the show's final years.
- The White House was contacted for comment, but no response was included in the report.