A claim has emerged suggesting President Donald Trump played a part in the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s late-night show. Longtime reporter Bill Carter shared his views on MS Now’s “The Weekend” about the potential involvement of Trump in ending the show.
Carter, known for his book “The Late Shift,” discussed a controversial AI-generated video. This video portrayed Trump grabbing Colbert and tossing him into a dumpster while “Y.M.C.A.” played in the background. Carter believes this suggests Trump’s personal involvement.
“It’s not a good development for the country, obviously,” Carter remarked.
The show’s finale aired on May 21. Many commentators, including Carter, feel that Trump’s ongoing issues with Colbert contributed to the show’s end.
According to Carter, the government aimed to silence a critic, which he sees as misaligned with American values. “We don’t do that. We don’t shut people up because they criticize us,” Carter stressed during his appearance.
Carter also suggested that CBS surrendered to the Trump administration, questioning the stated financial reasons for the show’s cancellation. Reports claim “The Late Show” was losing CBS around $40 million annually, a point that Colbert denied.
Furthermore, Carter hinted that CBS’s actions signal a shift away from independent journalism. He noted CBS’s previous settlement of a lawsuit filed by Trump against “60 Minutes.”
The Financial angle stated by CBS was dismissal, while Colbert often targeted Trump in his show’s later years. Interestingly, the Media Research Center reported Colbert made 3,639 jokes about Trump in 2023 alone.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comments on Carter’s accusations.