The White House has denied that President Donald Trump had any part in CBS' decision to cancel "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." The denial comes after Colbert, who won an Emmy for Outstanding Variety Series for his former program at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, repeatedly avoided answering questions about whether Trump was involved in the show's cancellation.
During a post-Emmys interview, when pressed by reporters about free speech and the future of late-night television, Colbert expressed optimism. "If you can’t say something because you go to jail, that is a violation of free speech," he stated. He added, "I think that late night is just as funny and just as vital as it ever has been, and I love watching Jimmy and Jimmy and John and John and Seth and everybody else. And I think I hope it goes on for a long time because you get to work with people like this, and that’s the greatest gift."
White House spokesman Davis Ingle told Fox News Digital that the administration had no connection to the network's decision. "Neither President Trump nor anyone else in the Administration had anything to do with this," Ingle said. "The reality is Stephen Colbert is a pathetic trainwreck with no talent, which is exactly why CBS canceled his show and is booting him off the airwaves."
When CNN correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister asked Colbert directly if he believed his show was canceled because of Trump, the comedian appeared to deflect the question multiple times. Colbert responded with humor, initially citing a hearing impairment and later stating, "You wanted to know who the most important member of my staff was? It’s me."
Media Research Center President David Bozell commented that Colbert's refusal to address the Trump question contrasted with speculation surrounding the cancellation. Bozell suggested the decision was financial, stating, "CBS looked at the audience, looked at the bill, and decided the joke had run long enough."
CBS announced in July 2025 that "The Late Show" would conclude after the 2025-26 season, citing it as a "purely financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night." The network asserted the decision was unrelated to the show's performance or content. This announcement followed Colbert's public criticism of Paramount's $16 million settlement with Trump concerning a "60 Minutes" interview. Colbert had characterized the settlement as a bribe related to Paramount's pending merger with Skydance Media.
Reports indicated that Colbert's manager had been informed of the show's impending cancellation on June 27, prior to Paramount's announcement of the Trump settlement and more than two weeks before Colbert's public remarks. "The Late Show" was reportedly losing approximately $40 million annually. The FCC approved Paramount's $8 billion merger with Skydance shortly after the cancellation announcement, with the transaction closing in August 2025.
Following the show's finale in May, Trump continued to criticize Colbert, calling him talentless and celebrating his departure from late-night television.