Tapper hits CBS parent over Colbert cancellation: Paramount in a 'bend-the-knee phase’

CNN anchor Jake Tapper criticized CBS's parent company over its recent decision to cancel “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” arguing that Paramount Global is in a “bend-the-knee phase” to President Trump. 

“Obviously, President Trump has made no secret of his hatred of being mocked, specifically the jokes that people like Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel make at his expense. in this era where corporations such as Paramount don't just ignore a president complaining,” Tapper said during his “The Lead” show on Friday. 

“Don't just dismiss any thin-skinned leader, because we live in a country with a First Amendment right to mock the president,' he added. "That would be one thing, but no Paramount is in a bend-the-knee phase."

CBS announced on Thursday evening that “The Late Show" will end its run in May 2026. 

“This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount,” the outlet said in a statement. 

The news comes weeks after Paramount agreed to a $16 million settlement with Trump over his lawsuit against “60 Minutes” after it aired an interview with former Vice President Harris during the 2024 presidential election. The then-GOP nominee blasted the company for the episode, which he argued was edited in his Democratic rival's favor. The outlet later released a full transcript of the interview.

Colbert has often criticized Trump on the show and criticized his own outlet following news of the settlement.

“I believe this kind of complicated financial settlement with a sitting government official has a technical name in legal circles: it’s big, fat bribe,” he joked at the time.

The deal also came as Paramount looks to complete a multibillion-dollar merger with entertainment media company Skydance — a move that will require a green light from the Federal Communications Commission.

Tapper on Friday called the looming cancellation of the "Late Show" a way for the company "to please President Trump as Paramount's Sherry Redstone waits for the Trump administration's blessing for a lucrative merger with a company called Skydance, a merger previously hung up by a substantively very weak lawsuit from Trump against CBS."

Trump, however, celebrated the decision, saying Colbert's talent "was even less than his ratings.”

On the other side, media hosts and Senate Democrats have criticized the move, calling for an investigation into the cancellation.

The Writers Guild of America East and West asked New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) on Friday to probe why CBS is canning the show — and inquired if sunsetting the show was meant to assist Paramount.