Topline<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump attacked NBC and the host of \u201cLate Night,\u201d Seth Meyers, in a Truth Social post early on Wednesday, questioning the network\u2019s decision to extend the comedian\u2019s contract, a month after he cheered CBS\u2019s cancellation of Stephen Colbert\u2019s \u201cThe Late Show\u201d and signaled other late-night talk show hosts were \u201cnext\u201d in line for cancelations.<\/p>\n
Host Seth Meyers during the monologue on the Late Show.<\/p>\n
Lloyd Bishop\/NBC via Getty ImagesKey Facts<\/p>\n
In a post made early on Wednesday morning, Trump wrote<\/a>: \u201cThere is a sick rumor going around that Fake News NBC extended the contract of one of the least talented Late Night television hosts out there, Seth Meyers.\u201d<\/p>\n It is unclear what \u201crumor\u201d the president is referring to, as NBC announced<\/a> back in May that it was extending Meyers\u2019 \u201cLate Night\u201d hosting deal through 2028.<\/p>\n The president claimed that Meyers had \u201cno ratings,\u201d even as the show continues to register<\/a> the strangest numbers in the 12:30 a.m. ET slot.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s post lobbed more insults at the late-night comic\u2014who repeatedly mocks the president on his show\u2014saying he has \u201cno Ratings, Talent, or Intelligence, and the Personality of an insecure child.\u201d<\/p>\n The president questioned NBC\u2019s decision to extend Meyers\u2019 contract and added, \u201cI don\u2019t know, but I\u2019ll definitely be finding out!!!\u201d<\/p>\n It is unclear if this means Trump intends to probe the contract extension.<\/p>\n What Do We Know About Seth Meyers\u2019 Contract Extension?<\/p>\n NBCUniversal announced the extension during a media upfront in May<\/a>, which will keep Meyers as the host of the \u201cLate Night\u201d show through 2028. The network\u2019s executive vice president of late night programming, Katie Hockmeyer, said: \u201cOver the last 10 years, Seth has resonated with his audience night after night with a sharp monologue and established segments\u2026We\u2019re so happy to continue this legacy franchise with Seth at the helm.\u201d<\/p>\n Key Background<\/p>\n Last month, CBS and Paramount executives announced<\/a> the network will cancel Colbert\u2019s late-night talk show and \u201cretire\u201d the \u2018The Late Show\u2019 franchise in May 2026, saying it is a \u201cpurely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.\u201d The network said the cancellation was \u201cnot related in any way to the show\u2019s performance, content, or other matters happening at Paramount.\u201d Despite this, the timing of the cancellation triggered criticism, with lawmakers questioning if the move was an effort to appease Trump or a response to Colbert\u2019s sharp criticism of Paramount\u2019s settlement. Earlier in July, Paramount announced it had reached a $16 million settlement<\/a> with Trump to resolve a lawsuit he filed against the network over a CBS News 60 Minutes interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris that aired last year. A few weeks after the settlement and the Colbert cancellation announcement, Paramount\u2019s pending $8 billion merger with Skydance was approved<\/a> by the FCC.<\/p>\n What Has Trump Said About Other Late Night Hosts?<\/p>\n In a Truth Social post<\/a> shortly after Colbert\u2019s cancellation announcement, Trump wrote: \u201cI absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings.\u201d The president then added, \u201cI hear Jimmy Kimmel is next.\u201d<\/p>\n Further Reading<\/p>\n Trump Suggests ABC And NBC Should Lose Broadcast Licenses Over Negative Coverage Of Him<\/a> (Forbes)<\/p>\n