WASHINGTON, DC – The landscape of American late-night television is undergoing a dramatic and deeply unsettling transformation, as the termination and suspension of prominent shows ignite widespread alarm across the industry.
Following the announcement that Stephen Colbert’s highly-rated show is set to end in May 2026, the temporary removal of Jimmy Kimmel’s show from the airwaves fueled intense speculation over the forces driving these decisions. Within the media ecosystem, concerns have mounted, with some observers openly questioning whether the current US political climate and pressure from the presidential administration are influencing network choices.
Amid this crisis of confidence, President Donald Trump publicly turned his attention to another major host, Jimmy Fallon, urging NBC to follow suit after the fate of Colbert and Kimmel became clear.
Writing on his social media platform, Truth Social, the 79-year-old former President declared, “The word is, and it’s a strong word at that, Jimmy Kimmel is NEXT to go in the untalented Late Night Sweepstakes and, shortly thereafter, Fallon will be gone.”
Trump characterized the hosts as “people with absolutely NO TALENT, who were paid Millions of Dollars for, in all cases, destroying what used to be GREAT Television.” He concluded with a triumphant note: “It’s really good to see them go, and I hope I played a major part in it.”
In stark contrast to the escalating political drama, The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon maintains a deliberate distance from the political fray. In a recent interview, Fallon championed his show’s non-partisan spirit, insisting that his team of “clever, smart writers” is focused purely on entertainment.
“Our show has never really been that political, you know. We hit both sides equally, and we try to make everybody laugh, and that’s really the way our show works,” Fallon shared, adding that his monologues follow the traditional format set during Johnny Carson’s era. “I just keep my head down and make sure the jokes are funny,” he concluded.
Despite the political headwinds facing his peers, Fallon’s position appears secure for now, having recently renewed his contract with NBC through 2028, underscoring a stark divide in the strategies and fates of the nation’s leading late-night voices.
