• Trump distances himself from Colbert's cancellation, attributing it to "lack of TALENT."
• The cancellation follows a $16 million settlement between Trump and Paramount.
• Colbert accused the settlement of being a "big fat bribe" tied to his firing.
• Other late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Fallon could be next targets, according to Trump.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday distanced himself from the controversy surrounding the cancellation of "The Late Show" with host Stephen Colbert, stating, "Everybody is saying that I was solely responsible for the firing of Stephen Colbert from CBS, Late Night. That is not true!" He attributed the cancellation to Colbert's alleged "pure lack of TALENT," claiming it cost CBS "$50 Million Dollars a year in losses," according to The Hill, HuffPost, and India Times.

The cancellation of Colbert's show, which is set to end in May 2026, comes after CBS's parent company, Paramount, settled a $16 million lawsuit with Trump concerning a "60 Minutes" interview. Critics suggest that the timing raises questions about potential political motivations behind the decision, despite CBS asserting that it was "purely a financial decision," according to The Hill and HuffPost.

Colbert himself reacted to the news of his show's cancellation during a taping, expressing his disappointment and joking that the network's actions amounted to a "big fat bribe," drawing public attention to the circumstances surrounding his firing. He stated, "I wish somebody else was getting it," highlighting the intense emotions around the show's ending, according to HuffPost and India Times.

Trump has also suggested that other late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon may be next to face similar consequences, indicating a broader sentiment regarding the state of late-night television. He remarked on Truth Social that "Show Biz and Television is a very simple business," implying that ratings dictate survival in the industry, as reported by The Hill and India Times.