Donald Trump isn't letting Stephen Colbert fade into the sunset without having the last word. The president issued a brief but ominous statement ahead of Colbert's final broadcast of The Late Show on Thursday night.
Trump's Cryptic Message
When asked Wednesday about his thoughts on the end of the late-night show, Trump, 79, replied with just eight words: "I'll have a message at a later date." The subdued response suggests a more lengthy riposte may be forthcoming during the final episode.
White House spokesman David Ingle was less restrained, telling The Independent: "Stephen Colbert is a pathetic trainwreck with no talent and terrible ratings, which is exactly why CBS canceled his show and is booting him off the airwaves."
End of an Era
CBS's long-running Late Show franchise will come to an end Thursday after 33 years on air. The show originated in 1993 with David Letterman, who passed the torch to Colbert in 2015. The network announced its cancellation last July, just days after Colbert criticized Paramount for reaching a $16 million settlement with President Trump over accusations that its newsmagazine series 60 Minutes deceptively edited a 2024 interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
CBS staffers told The Independent it was a continuation of the "Trump shakedown" that began with the settlement.
Springsteen's Farewell
During his Late Show appearance Wednesday, staunch Trump critic Bruce Springsteen skewered Paramount owners Larry and David Ellison before performing an acoustic version of his protest song "Streets of Minneapolis."
"I am here tonight in support of Stephen, because you're the first guy in America who's lost his show because we've got a president who can't take a joke," Springsteen said. "And because Larry and David Ellison feel the need to kiss his ass to get what they want. Stephen, these are small-minded people who've got no idea what the freedoms of this beautiful country are supposed to be about. This is for you."
What's Next for Colbert
After departing late night, Colbert's next role will see him write a new Lord of the Rings film. It was Peter Jackson who shared the surprise news in March with a video in which he and Colbert announced the project, currently titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past.
