CBS Cancels Flagship Talk Show... Writers Guild Claims "Caving to Trump"

Host Colbert Steps Down After Criticizing Trump
Writers Guild: "A Scapegoat to Silence Criticism of the Administration"

Allegations of political pressure are spreading over the cancellation of CBS's flagship late-night talk show, "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has claimed that the decision was made based on political calculations that could benefit former President Donald Trump, and has formally called on the New York State Attorney General to investigate.

The signboard of the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York, where CBS's popular late-night program "The Late Show" is recorded. The name of the host, comedian and political commentator Ed Colbert, is also written. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

In a statement released on July 18 (local time), the Writers Guild said, "CBS's decision has come at the expense of freedom of expression and appears to be an attempt to curry favor with President Trump," adding, "Prosecutors must clearly determine the true intent behind the cancellation decision."

These suspicions have arisen as CBS's parent company, Paramount, is currently pursuing a merger with Skydance Media valued at approximately $8.4 billion (about 11.7 trillion won). Since the merger requires approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), some analysts believe the network may have been wary of former President Trump, who holds significant regulatory influence.

The controversy intensified after host Stephen Colbert publicly criticized the civil settlement payment issue between former President Trump and CBS on air. During the broadcast, Colbert mentioned that CBS had agreed to pay $16 million to Trump's side, referring to it as a "huge bribe." Less than 48 hours later, news of the show's cancellation broke, fueling suspicions that the decision was retaliatory.

Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren also commented on the issue. She said, "If CBS not only paid a large settlement but also canceled the program of a host who maintained a critical perspective, this is a matter with political implications that the public deserves to know about," calling for a congressional investigation.

Paramount and CBS have strongly denied these allegations. In an official statement, CBS said, "This decision was solely due to declining profitability in the late-night broadcast market and has nothing to do with the company's merger efforts or any specific political figure."

Stephen Colbert has hosted "The Late Show" for nearly a decade since succeeding David Letterman in 2015. He has gained widespread support for his sharp satire and political commentary targeting conservative politicians, and has become a symbolic figure for the progressive camp, particularly through his criticism of former President Trump.

"The Late Show" is scheduled to air until May next year, after which it will be completely canceled with no successor host.