Late-night television found itself back in the headlines this Christmas week, not for a live broadcast but for a rerun of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that aired after midnight on December 23. The episode, originally from December 8, featured Colbert’s sharp monologue mocking President Donald Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center Honors — and it has reignited a furious backlash, including renewed calls for the show’s immediate cancellation, despite CBS already announcing its end in May 2026.
In the segment, Colbert sarcastically praised Trump’s hosting of the arts ceremony, joking about the president’s “plenty of time” to run both the country and a cultural institution. “It seems like the commander-in-chief shouldn’t have enough time to run a theater,” Colbert quipped, drawing boos from the audience and laughs from supporters. He also lampooned Trump’s FIFA Peace Prize as a “fake” award, comparing it to a knockoff toy.
The rerun, aired during the holiday lull, exploded on social media overnight. Trump himself responded on Truth Social at midnight on Christmas Eve: “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. CBS should put him to sleep NOW!” The president’s post amplified the controversy, with supporters echoing demands to “cancel Colbert” immediately, accusing him of “anti-American” bias.
Critics piled on, with posts like “Colbert’s hate speech isn’t comedy — it’s division!” gaining traction. Some escalated to calls for CBS to lose its broadcast license, claiming the satire crosses into “incitement.” The backlash snowballed into broader attacks on late-night TV, with claims of declining relevance and talent. One viral thread argued: “If CBS can cancel Colbert for $40 million losses, why not shut down the whole liberal echo chamber?”
Supporters rushed to defend free expression and satire’s role in democracy. “Colbert’s job is to mock power — that’s why we watch,” one fan tweeted. Fellow hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Seth Meyers voiced solidarity, with Kimmel posting: “Love you, Stephen. Fuck you and all your Sheldons, CBS.” Jon Stewart called it “a chilling attack on comedy.”
The irony? The Late Show is already ending due to financial reasons — losing $40-50 million annually amid declining late-night viewership. The cancellation, announced July 17, 2025, followed Paramount’s $16 million settlement with Trump over a 60 Minutes lawsuit — a deal Colbert had blasted as a “big fat bribe.” Many see the rerun backlash as a final blow, with Trump’s comments seen as vindictive glee.
Colbert has not responded directly, but the episode’s viral clips have racked up millions of views. As the show heads toward its May 2026 finale, this post-midnight rerun proves satire’s enduring power to provoke — even when the lights are supposed to be off.