3 min readNew DelhiMay 23, 2026 11:09 AM IST
Following the final broadcast of The Late Show, US President Donald Trump shared an unusual AI-generated video on X and Truth Social, targeting outgoing host Stephen Colbert.
The AI-manipulated clip shows Trump picking up Colbert and throwing him into a dumpster placed on the set of his own programme. It then shifts to Trump dancing to the Village People hit “YMCA” in front of an applauding crowd.
The video was uploaded without any caption, adding another twist to the years-long feud between Trump and the late-night show host.
The post appeared just a day after CBS aired the final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, bringing Colbert’s 11-year tenure to an end. He had stepped into the role in 2015 after David Letterman retired from the show.
Watch the video:
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 22, 2026
Online reactions were sharply divided. Supporters praised the clip as Trump returned to his trademark style of mocking critics, while others accused him of targeting a major media voice.
One user wrote, “Posting more boomer AI slop instead of fixing our broken fu***d up country. You really are useless.” Another commented, “Trust me. Stephen Colbert is going to have the last laugh.”
A third person added, “This type of post is SO below the dignity of the office of the president. Presidents are not supposed to be this petty. A true leader should be an example to their people. What kind of example is this? To behave like a high school freshman who gets upset at someone and then makes fun of that person online? Have some dignity, for Christ’s sake. Not everything needs to be addressed. There are real problems you should be spending your time on.”
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About an hour after the May 21 finale aired, Trump also took aim at Colbert on Truth Social. In a post shared, he wrote, “Colbert is finally finished at CBS. Amazing that he lasted so long! No talent, no ratings, no life. 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!”
Why did Stephen Colbert’s show end?
Earlier, CBS announced that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would wrap up in May 2026, pointing to financial challenges facing the traditional late-night television business.
Despite Colbert consistently leading ratings in his slot, the network said shrinking advertising revenue, changing audience habits and the growing dominance of streaming platforms had made the format increasingly difficult to sustain.
The decision, however, sparked political debate because it followed Colbert publicly criticising Paramount — CBS’s parent company — over a legal settlement linked to Trump, at a time when Paramount was also seeking regulatory approval for a major merger.
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CBS has denied that politics played any role in the cancellation, insisting the move was based entirely on financial considerations.
