(NewsNation) — CBS late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert offered defiant support Thursday for colleague Jimmy Kimmel, whose own show was pulled this week from ABC airwaves over comments Kimmel made about the Charlie Kirk assassination.
During the taping of his show, Colbert blamed the Trump administration for Kimmel’s cancellation, calling the president “an autocrat,” according to reports published before “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” was broadcast Thursday evening.
“Jimmy, I stand with you and your staff 100%” said Colbert, who dedicated Thursday’s program to free speech.
Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks on Charlie Kirk ‘inexplicable’: Bill O’Reilly
Colbert himself is considered by some to be a casualty of the Trump administration. CBS announced this summer it was ending “The Late Show” in May 2026, citing the expense of putting on the New York-based program. The announcement came as CBS owner Paramount sought federal approval for a merger with Skydance Media. Some critics thought the decision was more about appeasing Trump, a longtime target of late-night barbs, than saving money.
The Kimmel show’s demise came Wednesday after FCC Chair Brendan Carr expressed displeasure that Kimmel on Monday said Trump’s political base was trying to score points for Kirk’s death. The conservative activist and Trump ally was assassinated Sept. 10 at a Utah university.
Kimmel said Trump supporters were “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”
Nexstar, owner of NewsNation, said it would preempt Kimmel’s show on its ABC affiliates; then, the network itself said the show was being pulled indefinitely.
David Letterman also not amused at Kimmel cancelation
Another veteran of late-night television, David Letterman, said the cancellation of Kimmel’s show signals a troubling future for the media landscape. He said he never felt the heat from the FCC during his years spent poking fun at different administrations.
“The institution of the president of the United States ought to be bigger than a guy doing a talk show,” Letterman said.
Letterman said he had been in contact with Kimmel, who is doing “fine.”
