"They're Next": Trump Issues Foreboding Message to Kimmel and Other Hosts

Trump's Continued Criticism of Late-Night Hosts

President Donald Trump has continued his sharp criticism of late-night television hosts, specifically targeting Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, and radio personality Howard Stern. He suggested that these figures could soon face a similar fate to Stephen Colbert, who was recently canceled by CBS.

“Colbert has no talent,” Trump stated. “Fallon has no talent. Kimmel has no talent. They’re next. They’re gonna be going.” This comment highlights the president’s ongoing disdain for the entertainment industry, particularly those who have made him a subject of humor.

Colbert’s show was canceled as part of a broader strategy by CBS’s parent company, Paramount, to finalize a merger that required federal approval. The company also paid Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit that many legal experts considered baseless. Critics argued that this move was an attempt to gain favor with Trump to help secure the deal with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Despite being the highest-rated late-night show, the cancellation occurred shortly after the merger was approved.

CBS claimed that Colbert’s show was losing money, with some reports suggesting annual losses between $40 million and $50 million. However, Colbert has expressed skepticism about these figures during his monologues. Trump, on the other hand, predicted that other shows would follow in Colbert’s footsteps, stating, “I hear they’re gonna be going,” without providing specific details. He added, “I don’t know, but I would imagine, because... Colbert has better ratings than Kimmel or Fallon.”

Rumors About Howard Stern

A reporter in the room mentioned that Stern had “announced” he was “parting ways” with SiriusXM. However, this claim has not been confirmed. The US Sun reported that SiriusXM might cancel Stern when his contract expires at the end of the year, but this information remains unverified.

Trump has a history of appearing on Stern’s show, although clips from those appearances often resurface and cause embarrassment. Recently, a 2006 clip went viral where Trump discussed his views on dating age limits. “I don’t want to be like Congressman Foley, with, you know, 12-year-olds,” he said, referencing a GOP lawmaker who resigned in 2006 after sending inappropriate messages to young congressional pages.

This clip resurfaced as Trump tried to distance himself from Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who was once a close associate. Trump stated he “hasn’t heard” Stern’s name in a while, adding, “I used to do his show. We used to have fun.” He then noted that Stern’s show “went down” when he endorsed Hillary Clinton for president in 2016.

Longstanding Discontent with Late-Night Shows

Trump has long criticized late-night shows and their hosts for making fun of him. He has frequently attacked them and threatened their corporate backers. After watching Seth Meyers in January, Trump called the host “dumb and untalented” and described him as “merely a slot filler for the Scum that runs Comcast.”

He later turned his attention to the company itself, claiming, “These are not shows or entertainment, they are simply political hits, 100% of the time, to me and the Republican Party.” Trump demanded, “Comcast should pay a BIG price for this!”

Trump’s animosity toward Kimmel appears to be especially strong. During his first term, it was reported that Trump attempted to have Kimmel censored. This pattern of criticism underscores his deep-seated frustration with media figures who challenge his public image.