President Donald Trump launched an explosive midnight tirade against late-night host Stephen Colbert, calling him a “dead man walking” and demanding CBS “put him to sleep.”
The shocking comments came just after midnight on Truth Social, where Trump unleashed a barrage of insults directed at the comedian.
What started as an attack on one host quickly escalated into threats against multiple networks and their broadcast licenses.
And the timing couldn’t be more controversial—the comments follow the July announcement that Colbert’s show will end in May.
The Midnight Meltdown
Trump didn’t hold back in his initial post, tearing into Colbert with personal attacks about his talent and career trajectory.
Stephen Colbert is a pathetic trainwreck, with no talent or anything else necessary for show business success.
The president went further, suggesting the cancellation decision came too late and that Colbert has somehow deteriorated even more since the announcement.
Now, after being terminated by CBS, but left out to dry, he has actually gotten worse, along with his nonexistent ratings. Stephen is running on hatred and fumes ~ A dead man walking!
But perhaps most alarming was Trump’s suggestion that CBS should take action immediately.
CBS should, ‘put him to sleep,’ NOW, it is the humanitarian thing to do!
Expanding the Target List
Trump didn’t stop with Colbert. He quickly broadened his criticism to include late-night hosts across all major networks.
In a follow-up post, he asked his followers to weigh in on which network hosts the worst show.
Who has the worst Late Night host, CBS, ABC, or NBC??? They all have three things in common: High Salaries, No Talent, REALLY LOW RATINGS!
Trump specifically mentioned Jimmy Kimmel as potentially being next on the chopping block, claiming he possesses “even less talent than Colbert.”
Threatening Broadcast Licenses
What began as personal attacks quickly transformed into something far more concerning from a First Amendment perspective.
Trump suggested that networks broadcasting content critical of him should lose their broadcast licenses entirely.
If Network NEWSCASTS, and their Late Night Shows, are almost 100% Negative to President Donald J. Trump, MAGA, and the Republican Party, shouldn’t their very valuable Broadcast Licenses be terminated? I say, YES!
This marks a significant escalation in Trump’s ongoing feud with media outlets he perceives as hostile to his administration.
The comments raise serious questions about press freedom and governmental overreach into editorial decisions.
Context Behind the Colbert Cancellation
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” cancellation was announced back in July, with the program scheduled to conclude in May at season’s end.
At the time, Trump celebrated the news with characteristic bravado.
I absolutely love that Colbert’ got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings.
Colbert has been one of Trump’s most consistent critics throughout both his presidential campaigns and administrations, using his platform to mock policies and behavior.
The show became known for its political commentary, particularly during Trump’s first term.
Pattern of Media Attacks
This latest outburst fits into a broader pattern of Trump targeting media figures and outlets he views as antagonistic.
Throughout his political career, he has repeatedly criticized journalists, comedians, and news organizations for unfavorable coverage.
What makes these particular comments notable is the explicit call for action against broadcast licenses—a threat that carries constitutional implications.
The Federal Communications Commission, which oversees broadcast licenses, operates as an independent agency precisely to prevent political interference in media operations.
The Bigger Picture
Trump’s midnight rant reveals ongoing tensions between political figures and entertainment media that regularly critique them.
Late-night television has historically served as a venue for political satire and commentary, with hosts from Johnny Carson to Jon Stewart building careers around mocking those in power.
However, the relationship between Trump and late-night hosts has been particularly contentious, characterized by personal attacks from both sides.
The question now becomes whether these threats represent mere bluster or signal genuine intent to pursue action against media outlets.
Legal experts generally agree that revoking broadcast licenses based on editorial content would face significant constitutional challenges under First Amendment protections.
As Colbert’s show approaches its final episodes, the war of words between the president and late-night television shows no signs of cooling down—if anything, it appears to be intensifying.