Rosie O'Donnell Blasts Trump Over Colbert Show Cancellation
Comedian Rosie O'Donnell launched a scathing attack against Donald Trump in a TikTok post on Friday, claiming the president will "arrest every artist that disagrees with him" following CBS's announcement that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end in 2026.
O'Donnell, a staunch critic of the president who moved to Ireland after Trump's 2024 election victory, accused him of orchestrating Colbert's cancellation as part of a broader effort to silence opposition voices.
However, in a statement CBS said the cancellation was due to "financial reasons."
Newsweek has reached out to the White House via email on Saturday for comment.
Why It Matters
O'Donnell's allegations come amid Trump's unprecedented threat to revoke her U.S. citizenship, marking a significant escalation in their nearly two-decade feud that began in 2006 when O'Donnell criticized Trump's moral character during his Miss USA pageant ownership and as recently in conversation with the Irish prime minister while in the Oval Office.
Trump wrote on Truth Social last Saturday that he is giving "serious consideration" to taking away the comedian's citizenship, stating she "is not in the best interests of our Great Country."
What To Know
Earlier this week, CBS announced that Colbert's popular late-night show would end in May 2026 after years of hosting one of television's most politically charged programs. The timing has sparked speculation among fans who view the cancellation through the lens of Paramount's pending merger and the company's recent settlement of a lawsuit with Trump over a 60 Minutes report.
Trump accused 60 Minutes of editing its interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee in last year's presidential election, in a "deceitful" way, which the program denied.
In a statement on Thursday, the network dismissed speculation and said the late-night talk show was being canceled for financial reasons. Those reasons are associated with Paramount's proposed merger with Skydance Media, which requires Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval under the Trump administration. Paramount is the parent company of CBS.
In response to the Late Show's cancelation, Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday: "I absolutely love that Colbert' got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert! Greg Gutfeld is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show."
Last Monday, Colbert called out Paramount over its $16 million settlement with Trump during the show.
"While I was on vacation, my parent corporation Paramount paid Donald Trump a $16 million settlement over his 60 Minutes lawsuit," Colbert said in a monologue on The Late Show. "As someone who has always been a proud employee of this network, I am offended, and I don't know if anything will ever repair my trust in this company. But just taking a stab at it, I'd say $16 million would help."
O'Donnell's nearly 10-minute TikTok post also included unsubstantiated claims about Trump's mental and physical health, calling him "mentally incapacitated" and alleging he suffers from dementia. She framed Colbert's cancellation as part of systematic silencing of Trump critics, comparing immigration enforcement to "his own personal Gestapo."
Trump, who is 79 years old and is the oldest person to serve a second term, has faced intensifying scrutiny over his age and cognitive fitness. Although, his physician declared him "fully fit" after a comprehensive physical that included a perfect score on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, the White House announced on Thursday that he had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).
Comedian Rosie O'Donnell addresses a protest against President Donald Trump in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., on August 6, 2018.
Comedian Rosie O'Donnell addresses a protest against President Donald Trump in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., on August 6, 2018.
NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images
What People Are Saying
Rosie O'Donnell via TikTok on Friday: "I think Americans should stand up and say, no way. You're not going to silence us. You don't have the right to silence us. You never did. And you never will. We, the people, have the right to speak up against atrocities, which are happening on a daily basis, ICE, his own personal Gestapo—what will it take, America? What will take? He's gonna arrest every artist that disagrees with him and pretty much every artist does. Whether or not they're brave enough to say it is another thing."
She added: "How long do all of the voices against this horrific administration have in terms of their careers and ability to make money? Because this madman, this mentally incapacitated, physically ill, mentally ill man is spiraling out of control."
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social last Saturday: "Because of the fact that Rosie O'Donnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship. She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA!"
Stephen Colbert reacted to The Late Show's cancellation during Thursday's episode: "Before we start the show, I want to let you know something that I found out just last night. Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending The Late Show in May," he said as the audience booed. "Yeah, I share your feelings. It's not just the end of our show, but it's the end of The Late Show on CBS. I'm not being replaced, this is all just going away, and I do want to say that the folks at CBS have been great partners. I'm so grateful to the Tiffany Network for giving me this chair and this beautiful theater to call home. And of course I'm grateful to you, the audience, who have joined us every night."
What Happens Next
The Late Show's conclusion will mark the end of an era for political late-night television, though CBS has not announced replacement programming.
O'Donnell's citizenship status remains unchanged despite Trump's threats, as presidential powers to revoke citizenship are constitutionally limited and face significant legal challenges.
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