Trump mocks Stephen Colbert with AI dumpster video after 'The Late Show' finale
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump escalated his long-running feud with Stephen Colbert by posting an AI-generated video that appeared to show him dumping ‘The Late Show’ host into a trash bin just hours after Colbert signed off from his final broadcast.
The clip, shared on Truth Social, showed Trump walking up behind Colbert, lifting him into a dumpster, and then dancing to the Village People’s ‘YMCA’ before a cheering crowd. Trump also used the moment to unload on the comedian directly, calling him a “total jerk” with “no talent, no ratings, no life” before adding, “Thank goodness he’s finally gone!”
Trump turns ‘The Late Show’ finale into a victory lap
Trump’s post quickly turned the end of Colbert’s 11-season run into a political spectacle, with the president openly celebrating the late-night host’s departure as a personal win. The AI video added another layer to a feud that had simmered for years between the two public figures.
The social media post came one day after Colbert’s emotional final broadcast on Thursday, May 21. CBS had announced the cancellation of the 33-year late-night franchise last July, saying the move was “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night,” not a reflection of the show’s performance or content.
Still, the timing fueled speculation because the cancellation happened only days after Colbert criticized Paramount, CBS’s parent company, over its $16 million settlement with Trump tied to allegations involving a 2024 ‘60 Minutes’ interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
During his show, Colbert mocked the settlement and referred to it as a “big fat bribe,” a remark that intensified the public clash between the comedian and Trump.
Stephen Colbert's ‘The Late Show’ finale draws a massive audience
Despite Trump’s swipe about ratings, Colbert’s final episode pulled in 6.74 million viewers, making it the most-watched weeknight episode of his entire tenure as host. Throughout its final season, ‘The Late Show’ averaged 2.7 million viewers.
The farewell broadcast leaned heavily into nostalgia and celebrity appearances. Rival late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver joined Colbert for a joint segment that underscored the significance of the show’s ending.
this was so sweet. Stephen Colbert just ended his final episode of The Late Show while singing "Hello, Goodbye" with Paul McCartney. his family and the show's crew then joined them on stage before Paul turned off the lights to the Ed Sullivan Theater pic.twitter.com/BlgekWThFN
— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) May 22, 2026
Music legend Paul McCartney appeared as the final guest and performed The Beatles’ ‘Hello, Goodbye’ alongside Colbert, his family, and members of the production staff.
The show closed with McCartney and Colbert backstage at the historic Ed Sullivan Theater, where the pair symbolically pulled a power lever and shut off the theater lights.
