Jimmy Kimmel and Family Team Up to Slam Trump, Who Warned That Kimmel’s Late-Night Show Might Be Canceled Next

Jimmy Kimmel and President Donald Trump are not mincing words about their feelings toward one another as politics threatens the late-night television industry.

On July 17, top-rated late-night host Stephen Colbert made the shocking announcement that CBS was canceling The Late Show after more than 30 years. The timing of the news quickly prompted speculation about whether politics were involved in the decision, since Colbert had just used his platform to slam CBS’ parent company, Paramount, for courting favor with Trump by agreeing to donate millions toward his future presidential library.

The president fired a shot at Kimmel following the Colbert announcement, writing in a July 18 Truth Social post, “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert!”

Trump also snuck in a blow at late-night host Jimmy Fallon without using names, calling him “the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show.”

Kimmel, who has been on summer vacation with his family, happened to spend July 17 at an anti-Trump protest — and he shared photos from his family’s outing with a pointed caption amid the Late Show outrage.

“May every day be another wonderful secret,” Kimmel’s Instagram caption read, referencing a line from a cryptic letter that Trump allegedly wrote to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

In the photo, he and his wife, Molly McNearney, are pictured in anti-Trump shirts with their children. Each member of the family is holding a sign, with phrases including, “Don’t bend the knee,” “Make America Good Again,” and “I wish we had a better president!”

Colbert’s announcement that his show would be ending after 10 seasons under his leadership was met with boos from his studio audience. The comedian and host revealed during the taping that he “found out just last night” about the decision.

In an Instagram Stories post following Colbert’s announcement, Kimmel shared a clip from his competitor’s show, writing, “Love you Stephen.”

He also took the opportunity to call out the network behind the decision. “F— you and all your Sheldons, CBS,” Kimmel added, seemingly referring to the network’s Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon series.

The Colbert cancellation raised eyebrows with some as it came three days after the talk show host criticized Paramount for its recent $16 million settlement with Trump, who has alleged that CBS News’ 60 Minutes deceptively edited an interview with his 2024 presidential opponent, Kamala Harris.

Meanwhile, Paramount is in the midst of a merger with entertainment company Skydance — a deal that will need approval from the Trump administration.

In a statement from CBS shared with PEOPLE, the network said their decision to axe The Late Show — which ranks No. 1 in its time slot and, days earlier, received its ninth Emmy nomination for Outstanding Talk Series — was “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.”

The network added that the cancellation was “not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”

Trump and Kimmel have shared some heated exchanges in the past. At the end of his hosting gig at the 96th Annual Academy Awards in March 2024, Kimmel took a moment to read a review of his performance that Trump had posted on his Truth Social account.

“Has there EVER been a WORSE HOST than Jimmy Kimmel at The Oscars. His opening was that of a less than average person trying too hard to be something which he is not, and never can be,” Trump wrote, in part.

The comedian replied, “Well, thank you, President Trump. Thank you for watching. I’m surprised, isn’t it past your jail time?”