Trump at Christmas Eve dinner at Mar-a-Lago.Image: keystone
December 25, 2025, 12:19 p.mDecember 25, 2025, 12:19 p.m
US President Donald Trump used the Christmas period to launch new attacks against late-night shows on American television. On the occasion of a repeat of a program from December 8th, presenter Stephen Colbert incurred the wrath of the president on Christmas Eve. The CBS broadcaster, which broadcast the show, should “put Colbert to sleep,” the president wrote on his Truth Social platform, “that is the most humane thing you can do.”
“Stephen Colbert is a pathetic failure who has no talent or anything else,” Trump continued. Since the station announced the cancellation of Colbert’s show, the host has become even worse. CBS announced in July that “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” would end in May 2026. The broadcaster gave financial reasons for this. Since Colbert is considered a critic of Donald Trump, many industry insiders suspected that CBS acted out of consideration for the US President.
Stephen Colbert. CBS plans to end its show in May.Image: keystone
Late night shows mock Trump
Since Trump’s election as president, the late-night shows popular in the USA have been seen as a powerful format for countering the president’s right-wing populism. While traditional media formats reach their limits when Trump distorts reality or spreads untruths, the late-night hosts counteract him with biting mockery that exposes Trump to ridicule in front of the audience.
Trump has already filed several lawsuits against US broadcasters. But his attacks are not limited to late night shows. He regularly describes established media as “enemies of the people,” accuses reporters of lying and threatens to revoke the licenses of undesirable broadcasters. At the same time, Trump has given numerous right-wing media outlets, influencers, bloggers and podcasters access to the White House since he took office. The White House refers to these as “new media”. (sda/dpa)