Late-Night Hosts, Be Warned: Trump Issues a Threatening Statement to Your Direction, Similar to "You're Up Next"
President Donald Trump has taken aim at several late-night TV hosts, including Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, and Howard Stern, accusing them of lacking talent and predicting their shows will be canceled.
During a White House press conference, Trump criticized Kimmel and Fallon, stating they have "no talent" and are "next" to lose their shows following Stephen Colbert's recent cancellation. Regarding Stern, Trump attributed his show's rumored cancellation to his endorsement of Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Stern's show, broadcast on Sirius XM, is reportedly set to end when his contract expires at the end of this year. However, there are no confirmed reports stating that Stern has parted ways with SiriusXM.
Colbert’s "The Late Show" is confirmed to end its run in May 2026, with CBS declaring the show irreplaceable but choosing to retire the franchise. CBS claimed Colbert’s show was losing money as the reason for its cancellation, with some reports suggesting it was losing between $40 million and $50 million a year.
Trump's comments come amidst a long history of criticizing late-night shows and hosts that make fun of him. Over the years, he has attacked them and threatened their corporate parents, including accusations of producing political hits against him and the Republican Party.
In a 2006 clip that resurfaced recently, Trump compared himself to a GOP lawmaker who was forced to step down due to lewd messages sent to young male congressional pages. Trump has also been trying to distance himself from Jeffrey Epstein, a close friend who was a convicted sex offender.
Critics have suggested that CBS was trying to win Trump's favor to help the merger with Viacom pass Federal Communication Commission muster. In 2019, CBS's parent company, Paramount, paid Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit that most legal experts believed was without merit.
As the future of these late-night entertainers remains uncertain, Trump's comments have fuelled speculation about the potential cancellations of Kimmel, Fallon, and Stern's shows. However, no official announcements have been made regarding the end of their shows at the time of the reports.
[1] CBS Cancels Stephen Colbert's Late Show
[2] Sirius XM Reportedly Plans to Cancel Howard Stern's Show
[3] Trump Slams Late-Night TV Hosts as Lacking Talent
[1] The Huffington Post, in a syndicated article, highlighted the recent cancellation of Stephen Colbert's "The Late Show," referencing CBS declaring the show irreplaceable and flatly stating its end in May 2026.
[2] In a timely piece of general news, the entertainment section of a renowned online publication reported speculation about Sirius XM planning to cancel Howard Stern's show, following Stern's rumored contract expiration at the end of this year.
[3] Organic chatter on social media platforms like Twitter exploded with opinions on President Donald Trump's harsh criticism of late-night TV hosts, including Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, and Howard Stern, whom he accused of lacking talent and facing potential show cancellations.
[4] Amidst the frenzy of celebrity news and political banter on syndicated platforms such as HuffPost and the best of the internet on Twitter, the fate of these television personalities and their shows remains unclear.
