A year-old clip of David Letterman warning about network executives altering late-night programming to avoid upsetting Donald Trump has resurfaced, drawing renewed attention amid recent White House press actions. In remarks at The Atlantic Festival in 2025, Letterman cautioned that under authoritarian regimes, individuals and media outlets eventually face repercussions.
Letterman cited specific instances, including CBS's decision to cancel Stephen Colbert's "Late Show," which he attributed to Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison not wanting to "trouble" Trump. He also pointed to ABC's suspension of Jimmy Kimmel, which followed a threat from Trump-aligned TV czar Brendan Carr concerning Kimmel's comments about Charlie Kirk. Letterman characterized these actions as "managed media" and stated, "You can’t go around firing somebody because you’re fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian — a criminal — administration in the Oval Office."
The clip gained further traction on social media following a post by former Labor Secretary Robert Reich, who shared the video and commented, "This warning from David Letterman to the media from just a year ago feels sadly too relevant today. He is right: You can’t appease a tyrant."