Stephen Colbert says he has no ‘fear’ of Trump despite show cancellation: ‘How silly would it be’
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: As Stephen Colbert gets ready to sign off from 'The Late Show' for the final time on May 21, the longtime late-night host says he’s not exactly bothered by speculation that politics played a role in the show’s cancellation.
Speaking to People, Colbert reflected on the end of the CBS staple and brushed aside the idea that he’s worried about the Trump administration after years of making politics part of his nightly routine.
Since joining 'The Daily Show' in 1997 and later launching 'The Colbert Report' in 2005, Colbert has spent decades needling politicians (especially conservatives) while building himself into one of late-night’s most recognizable faces.
“I’ll never stop caring about my country,” Colbert said. “I’m a perfectly fine fan of me, but I am not of the opinion that if my voice is missing from the national conversation, the republic will turn awry.”
Stephen Colbert has no 'fear' of Trump administration
Questions about politics have followed the cancellation ever since CBS pulled the plug in July 2025, just days after Colbert blasted CBS’s parent company, Paramount, over its $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump.
Trump had sued CBS’s '60 Minutes', accusing the network of deceptively editing an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. At the time, Paramount was trying to complete a merger with entertainment company Skydance Media, a deal that required approval from the Trump administration.
The timing immediately sparked chatter that Colbert’s criticism may have cost him his show. CBS repeatedly denied that.
The network said the decision was “purely a financial decision” and “not related in any way to the show’s performance, content, or other matters happening at Paramount."
Colbert, meanwhile, says he has no 'fear' of the administration.
“I mean, how silly would it be?” he said. “The ending of the show aside, which people can speculate about all they want, and I can’t argue with their speculations, but we’re clowns. How much does it diminish the office of the Presidency to even notice what we say?"
He added, “[Trump] needs to know how to pick his battles, metaphorically and literally.”
What he says he’ll miss most is the "camaraderie of us feeling better about our day." Colbert added, “I harvest laughter for a living. I’ll miss that as much as I’ll miss the audience."
David Letterman calls foul as Stephen Colbert looks ahead
Colbert said he was literally half-asleep when he learned the show was ending.
“I sat up, and I said, ‘I’m sorry, I’m awake. Could you say that one more time?’” He recalled, explaining that he had been lying down with a sock over his eyes before taping.
David Letterman, the creator and original host of 'The Late Show', wasn’t buying CBS’s financial explanation.
In an interview with The New York Times on May 5, Letterman claimed Colbert “was dumped because the people selling the network to Skydance said, 'Oh no, there’s not going to be any trouble with that guy. We’re going to take care of the show. We’re just going to throw that into the deal. When will the ink on the check dry.'”
“I’m just going to go on record as saying: They’re lying,” Letterman added.
CBS pushed back again after Letterman’s comments, with a spokesperson telling People on May 5 that the cancellation was “unequivocally a financial decision.”
Nine months after the news broke, Colbert appeared more philosophical than furious.
“I mean, you can't do this forever,” he said. “You have to think about, well, when is the right time to end your tenure? I didn't think this soon, but I mean, who knows? Maybe CBS saved my life because it takes a lot of bone marrow to do the show every day, and now I'll be stepping down with enough time, enough energy to do other things that I want to do.”
The final episode of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' will air Thursday, May 21, at 11:35 pm ET on CBS.
