Washington, D.C. – July 22, 2025 – President Donald Trump has intensified his ongoing criticism of late-night television, specifically targeting hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon, following the recent cancellation of CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump celebrated Colbert’s exit and claimed that Kimmel and Fallon’s shows are next in what he called the “untalented Late Night Sweepstakes.” The remarks have sparked widespread discussion about the intersection of politics and entertainment, with critics accusing Trump of leveraging his influence to pressure media outlets.
On July 18, Trump wrote, “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert!” He also took aim at Fallon, referring to him as “the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show,” while praising Fox News host Greg Gutfeld as “better than all of them combined.” In a follow-up post on July 22, Trump doubled down, stating, “The word is, and it’s a strong word at that, Jimmy Kimmel is NEXT to go… and, shortly thereafter, [Jimmy] Fallon will be gone. It’s really good to see them go, and I hope I played a major part in it!”
The controversy follows CBS’s announcement on July 17 that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end in May 2026, citing “financial reasons” amid a challenging late-night TV landscape. The network emphasized that the decision was not related to the show’s content or performance, noting that Colbert’s program has been the top-rated late-night show for nine seasons, averaging 2.42 million viewers in 2025, compared to Jimmy Kimmel Live!’s 1.8 million and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’s 1.2 million.
However, the timing of the cancellation—days after Colbert criticized CBS’s parent company, Paramount, for a $16 million settlement with Trump over a 60 Minutes lawsuit—has fueled speculation of political motivations. Paramount’s pending $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, which requires approval from Trump’s Federal Communications Commission, has added to the scrutiny. Colbert called the settlement a “big, fat bribe” on air, prompting backlash from figures like the Writers Guild of America, which urged New York Attorney General Letitia James to investigate.
Kimmel, who has been outspoken against Trump, responded indirectly while on summer vacation. On July 17, he posted an Instagram photo from an anti-Trump “Good Trouble” protest, alongside his family holding signs reading “Make America Good Again” and “I wish we had a better President.” His caption referenced a 2003 letter Trump allegedly wrote to Jeffrey Epstein, saying, “May every day be another wonderful secret,” a pointed jab at the president. Kimmel also expressed solidarity with Colbert, writing, “Love you Stephen. F— you and all your Sheldons CBS,” referencing CBS’s sitcoms.
Fallon, meanwhile, took a more subdued approach, expressing shock at Colbert’s cancellation. In an Instagram Story on July 18, he called Colbert “one of the sharpest, funniest hosts to ever do it” and lamented the loss of a late-night staple, adding, “I really thought I’d ride this out with him for years to come.” During his July 21 monologue on The Tonight Show, Fallon joined other hosts, including Seth Meyers, Jon Stewart, and Andy Cohen, in a comedic spoof supporting Colbert, parodying a viral Coldplay scandal.
Trump’s comments have drawn sharp criticism online, with some X users decrying what they see as censorship in the “land of the free.” One post remarked, “Of course this would happen in Trump’s America. They don’t want discourse or debate, and they can’t stand difference of opinion.” Others echoed Trump’s sentiments, with one user stating, “These people with absolutely NO TALENT, destroying what used to be GREAT television. It’s really good to see them go.”
The feud is not new. Trump has long targeted late-night hosts for their critical monologues, with a 2020 study noting that 97% of political jokes by Colbert and Fallon targeted him. Kimmel, in particular, has clashed with Trump repeatedly, from mocking his policies on gun violence and immigration to quipping at the 2024 Oscars, “Isn’t it past your jail time?” in response to Trump’s criticism of his hosting.Neither ABC nor NBC has commented on Trump’s latest claims about Jimmy Kimmel Live! or The Tonight Show. As late-night television faces declining ad revenues and viewership, the political undertones of Trump’s remarks continue to raise questions about the future of the format and its role in public discourse.
