A Christmas Eve firestorm erupted as former President Trump unleashed a scathing attack on late-night host Stephen Colbert, fueled by a re-aired segment that mocked his recent appearance at the Kennedy Center Honors. The outburst, delivered via a social media platform, signaled a clear escalation in a long-simmering feud.
Trump didn’t hold back, branding Colbert a “pathetic trainwreck” devoid of talent and predicting a swift demise for his show. He demanded CBS cancel the program immediately, framing it as a “humanitarian” act. The intensity of the language revealed a deep-seated resentment towards the comedian’s consistent criticism.
The attack extended beyond Colbert, encompassing Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon, all accused of possessing “high salaries, no talent, [and] REALLY LOW RATINGS!” Trump went further, suggesting the government revoke the broadcast licenses of any network airing these late-night programs, raising serious questions about freedom of speech and presidential overreach.
The initial spark was a monologue from a December 8th episode, re-aired on Christmas Eve, where Colbert playfully questioned Trump’s ability to balance the responsibilities of the presidency with theatrical commitments. The comedian imagined a scenario where urgent national security matters were interrupted by dress rehearsals for a musical.
Colbert had previously lampooned Trump in an animated holiday clip, portraying him as a tyrannical “King Jag Bag” who cancels Christmas and dismantles Santa’s workshop to build a monument to himself. The satire clearly struck a nerve with the former president, adding fuel to the already volatile situation.
This latest exchange follows Trump’s earlier glee over the announced cancellation of *The Late Show* in 2026. He openly celebrated Colbert’s impending departure, dismissing his talent and even predicting the downfall of Jimmy Kimmel. The pattern revealed a consistent sensitivity to comedic criticism.
The conflict isn’t solely about jokes. It stems, in part, from Colbert’s vocal criticism of a previous settlement between CBS and Paramount Global, alleging a “big fat bribe” related to a *60 Minutes* interview with Kamala Harris. Colbert publicly questioned the network’s integrity, a move that likely deepened the rift.
CBS maintains the cancellation of *The Late Show* is a purely financial decision, unrelated to the show’s content or performance. However, Trump’s relentless attacks suggest a more personal motivation, highlighting a deep animosity towards those who dare to satirize him.
The feud extends to Jimmy Kimmel, who responded to Trump’s latest insults with a defiant offer: he’d relinquish his late-night slot if Trump would resign. The exchange underscored the increasingly personal and combative nature of the relationship between the former president and late-night comedians.
Despite the vitriol, Trump concluded his Christmas Eve tirade with a simple, yet jarring, “MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!” – a stark contrast to the animosity that preceded it, and a final punctuation mark on a remarkably public and bitter dispute.
