President Donald Trump posted a late-night rant against Stephen Colbert at 2 a.m., just hours after the comedian ended his 11-year run on The Late Show. Trump’s post recycled language he had used in a 2024 attack on Colbert, but one phrase in particular stood out as especially harsh. The president described Colbert as someone with “no talent, no ratings, no life” and said, “He was like a dead person.”
According to Raw Story, Colbert’s final episode was a star-studded farewell, with guests including Paul McCartney, Paul Rudd, Bryan Cranston, and Ryan Reynolds. Despite the high-profile send-off, Trump took to his platform to write, “Colbert is finally finished at CBS. Amazing that he lasted so long! No talent, no ratings, no life.”
The closing phrase – “He was like a dead person” – was widely seen as the most pointed part of the attack. This was not Trump’s first time going after Colbert. Back in 2024, Trump wrote that CBS should “terminate his contract and pick almost anyone, right off the street, who would do better, and for FAR LESS MONEY.” He also claimed at the time that Colbert’s show was costing CBS $50 million a year.
Trump’s midnight post shows his long-running bitterness toward Colbert has not faded
In his final episode statement to PEOPLE, Colbert said, “I am extraordinarily, deeply grateful to the 200 people who work here… I’ve had the pleasure and the responsibility of sharing what we do every day with you in front of this camera for the last 10 years.” His tone was one of gratitude toward his team and his audience.
CBS has announced that The Late Show will be replaced by a new comedy talk show hosted by Byron Allen, titled Comics Unleashed. The show is expected to take a more lighthearted and family-friendly approach, with less political content compared to Colbert’s style. Trump has faced criticism from several entertainers and public figures over his conduct, and Jon Stewart recently called out Trump over a diplomatic embarrassment that drew wide attention.
Trump’s overnight attack came as a surprise to many, given that the show had already ended and there was little reason to pile on. The timing – just hours after Colbert’s final episode aired – made the post stand out even more. Colbert had already signed off, and Trump still felt the need to respond.
The 2024 post Trump recycled had been one of several attacks he made on Colbert during that period, mostly focused on ratings and cost. But the latest post added a more personal edge, with the “dead person” line going beyond simple criticism of the show’s performance.
This kind of late-night social media behavior has raised questions about the president’s focus, especially at a time when Trump appears to be sidelining his military advisors on Iran while waiting on calls from foreign leaders instead.
Colbert closed out The Late Show after 10 years as host, with a packed studio audience and a long list of celebrity guests. His final remarks were focused on the people behind the scenes rather than on himself, which stood in contrast to the tone of Trump’s post that followed just hours later.
Published: May 22, 2026 03:53 pm