Colbert Wins Emmy After Cancellation, Avoids Trump Discussion

<p>The White House on Tuesday denied that President Donald Trump had any influence on CBS' decision to cancel "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." This followed Colbert's Emmy win in Los Angeles, where he avoided questions about Trump and defended free speech.</p><p>Colbert's former program won Outstanding Variety Series at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, months after airing its final episode in May.</p><p>When asked about free speech and the future of late-night television, Colbert expressed optimism about the medium. He stated, "If you can’t say something because you go to jail, that is a violation of free speech. I think that late night is just as funny and just as vital as it ever has been, and I love watching Jimmy and Jimmy and John and John and Seth and everybody else. And I hope it goes on for a long time because you get to work with people like this, and that’s the greatest gift."</p><p>White House spokesman Davis Ingle told Fox News Digital that the administration had no role in the network’s decision. Ingle stated, "Neither President Trump nor anyone else in the Administration had anything to do with this. The reality is Stephen Colbert is a pathetic trainwreck with no talent, which is exactly why CBS canceled his show and is booting him off the airwaves."</p><p>During a post-Emmys interview, Colbert was asked by CNN correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister whether he believed his show had been canceled because of Trump. Colbert appeared to deflect the question, responding with humor instead. When asked again, he said, "You wanted to know who the most important member of my staff was? It’s me."</p><p>Media Research Center President David Bozell commented on Colbert’s avoidance of the Trump question, suggesting that CBS made a financial decision to end the show. He said, "Colbert suddenly does not want to talk about Trump? That’s rich. Obviously, Trump did not cancel his show. CBS looked at the audience, looked at the bill, and decided the joke had run long enough."</p><p>CBS announced in July 2025 that it would end "The Late Show" franchise after Colbert's 25-26 season, citing a financial decision amid challenges in late-night television. The network clarified that the decision was unrelated to the show's performance or content.</p><p>The announcement followed Colbert's criticism of Paramount over a $16 million settlement with Trump related to a "60 Minutes" interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Colbert characterized the settlement as a payoff connected to Paramount’s pending merger with Skydance Media.</p><p>Fox News Digital reported that Colbert's manager had been informed on June 27 that CBS intended to end the show, prior to the public criticism of the Trump settlement. "The Late Show" had been losing approximately $40 million annually.</p><p>The FCC approved Paramount's $8 billion merger with Skydance one week after CBS announced the cancellation, with the transaction closing in August 2025.</p><p>Trump continued to criticize Colbert after the program’s May finale, calling him talentless and celebrating his departure from late-night television.</p><p>Fox News Digital reached out to CBS-Paramount for comment but did not receive an immediate response.</p>