UMVA has learned that in a stunning display of vindictiveness, U.S. President Donald Trump took to social media to savagely attack Stephen Colbert on the morning after his final episode of The Late Show.
“Colbert is finally finished at CBS. Amazing that he lasted so long! No talent, no ratings, no life,” Trump fumed in a scathing message posted to Truth Social at 1:52 a.m. on Friday. “He was like a dead person. You could take any person off of the street and they would be better than this total jerk. Thank goodness he’s finally gone!”
This vicious attack comes as no surprise, given Colbert's history as one of Trump's most persistent detractors. During a segment of the program last summer, Colbert criticized a deal between Trump and Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris that was deceptively edited.
Colbert's sharp words sparked a fierce backlash from Trump, who mocked the 62-year-old comedian when the news of The Late Show's cancellation broke. “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired,” Trump wrote on Truth Social after Colbert told his audience that Late Night was over.
The war of words continued unabated during Colbert's final 10 months on the air, with Trump asking Santa to end the Late Show early in a scathing post over Christmas. “Stephen Colbert is a pathetic trainwreck, with no talent or anything else necessary for show business success,” Trump wrote.
Trump had promised he had an insult coming for Colbert, and he delivered on that promise after the final episode. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the president vowed to have more to say about Colbert's departure. “I’ll have a message at a later date,” Trump told reporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews.
Colbert, anticipating Trump's barb, told PEOPLE that he found it strange that Trump continuously fought with him and his fellow late-night hosts, including Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers. “We’re clowns,” Colbert said, describing the job of late-night personalities.
In his final episode, Colbert tried to keep things as normal as possible, with a comedic bit featuring actors Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Tim Meadows, and Ryan Reynolds all vying to be Colbert's last guest. Tig Notaro dropped in because she likes being part of historic events.
During his last segment of Meanwhile…, Colbert riffed on the world’s largest Dr Pepper bottle being unveiled at the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco, Texas (“You know their slogan: ‘Please say we’re famous for the soda!’). He also poked fun at a lawsuit over music from A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Before he and Paul McCartney serenaded the crowd with a rendition of The Beatles’ Hello, Goodbye, Colbert took a swipe against Trump during their brief chat. McCartney marveled at being back inside the Ed Sullivan Theater, where The Beatles made their U.S. debut back in February 1964.
Colbert couldn't resist getting in one last dig, quipping, “That’s very popular in certain circles these days,” as the audience cheered.
