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In an unprecedented announcement, CBS has declared it will cancel *Late Night With Stephen Colbert* in May 2026, marking its exit from the late-night television arena entirely.
During a taping on Thursday, Colbert addressed his audience:
Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending our show in May. This is the end of ‘The Late Show’ on CBS. Everything we’ve built is simply fading away.
I want to express my gratitude to everyone at CBS for being outstanding partners. I’m thankful to the Tiffany network for providing me with this chair and this beautiful theater to call home. Most importantly, I’m grateful to you, the audience, who have joined us every night in here, out there, and around the globe.
While this news may come as a jolt, it is not entirely surprising given the recent takeover of CBS by the Trump-affiliated Ellison brothers, whose agenda appears to include purging critics of Trump from the network.
Speculation had arisen a few weeks prior about potential cancellations affecting both Colbert on CBS and Jon Stewart at the now Ellison-owned *The Daily Show*. Although many believed Colbert’s cancellation was unlikely due to his show’s consistent high ratings, CBS has historically struggled with late-night programming until the arrival of David Letterman from NBC.
The influence of Trump on media is palpable. Since his return to office, a noticeable trend has emerged where critics of his administration are being systematically eliminated from mainstream media outlets.
If the decision to cancel Colbert’s show was purely a business one, other networks would likely be eager to sign him on. His next move could serve as a litmus test for the media’s resolve in standing up to Trump.
A swift transition to a new high-profile platform for Colbert would offer a glimmer of hope. Conversely, if he struggles to find a new home, this would signal a disheartening capitulation of mainstream media to Trump’s influence.
