Following Stephen Colbert's final episode of The Late Show, Donald Trump took to social media to gloat over the show's cancellation. After posting a message calling Colbert 'a total jerk,' the president shared an AI-generated video that showed him literally dumping the late-night host in a garbage bin and then dancing to the Village People's Y.M.C.A.
AI Video Goes Viral
The 22-second clip, which had racked up more than 58 million views on X by Saturday morning, shows a smiling Trump walking onto the set of The Late Show as Colbert introduces his final episode. The doctored video then shows an AI version of Trump hoisting Colbert up and walking him over to a large dumpster where he deposits him to loud cheers. Trump then slams the lid and starts his signature dance.
The White House Instagram page also shared the post with the caption, 'Bye-bye.'
Public Reaction Divided
The video divided the internet, with Trump's most fervent supporters cheering on the president's childish joke. 'I know the left is going to be mad about this one,' one follower wrote. But many other comments took aim at the president for posting jokes 'while gas prices keep rising.' 'We really are living in a simulation,' one critic swiped. 'How the hell is the president of a nation sharing things like this?'
With the series finale for The Late Show drawing a record-setting 6.74 million viewers, another detractor suggested that Colbert was more popular than Trump, whose approval rating has taken a nosedive according to a new Fox News poll.
Trump's Insults Continue
Shortly after Colbert's final episode Thursday night, Trump slammed the comedian in a Truth Social post shared at 1:52 a.m. Friday, writing that he had '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!' Trump wrote.
In another message, Trump predicted that Colbert's exit would lead to more late night shows being cancelled. 'Stephen Colbert's firing from CBS was the 'Beginning of the End' for untalented, nasty, highly overpaid, not funny, and very poorly rated Late Night Television Hosts. Others, of even less talent, to soon follow. May they all Rest in Peace! President DONALD J. TRUMP,' he wrote.
Background of the Feud
Colbert was one of Trump's most persistent critics. During a segment of the program last summer, he criticized a deal between the president and Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris that was deceptively edited. With Paramount in the midst of trying to acquire Skydance — a deal that required the Trump administration's approval — Colbert called the $16 million settlement a 'big fat bribe.'
The Late Show was cancelled shortly after Colbert made that wisecrack, with CBS announcing last July that it was pulling the plug on the Emmy-winning program. The network said The Late Show's end was due to budgetary constraints, with reports claiming the program was losing $40 million a year.
Trump mocked the 62-year-old comedian when he announced the news. 'I absolutely love that Colbert got fired,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. The war of words continued 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.
Trump's Final Jab
Trump weighing in on Colbert's final episode was a sure thing. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the president promised he would 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 was anticipating that Trump would be the one to get the last word. But ahead of Thursday's series finale, Colbert told PEOPLE that he found it strange that Trump continuously fought with him and his fellow late-night hosts. 'We're clowns,' Colbert said, describing the job of late-night personalities. 'How much does it diminish the office of the presidency to even notice what we say? That guy needs to know how to pick his battles. I mean, metaphorically and literally.'
