Bruce Springsteen Targets Trump and Paramount During Emotional Appearance on Stephen Colbert’s Final Week
Rock legend Bruce Springsteen delivered one of the most talked-about moments of the week during his appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, using the stage to criticize President Donald Trump and executives tied to Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media.
Springsteen appeared on the second-to-last episode of the long-running late-night program Wednesday night and openly supported host Stephen Colbert amid the show’s upcoming end. Before performing, the 76-year-old musician addressed the audience directly and claimed Colbert was losing his show because the current president “can’t take a joke.”
The singer then turned his criticism toward leadership connected to Paramount Skydance, specifically mentioning Larry Ellison and David Ellison. Springsteen accused the executives of trying to stay in favor with Trump while pursuing their business interests. He also described the company’s leadership as “small-minded people” who do not understand the freedoms that define the United States.
The emotional moment quickly became a major topic online, especially because it happened during the final days of Colbert’s late-night run on CBS. Springsteen later performed an acoustic version of “Streets of Minneapolis,” a protest song connected to the fatal shootings of anti-ICE protesters Alex Pretti and Renee Good during immigration enforcement operations earlier this year.
The public clash between Springsteen and Trump is not new. Over the years, both men have repeatedly criticized each other in public statements and interviews. Springsteen’s recent “Land of Hope and Dreams Tour” was widely viewed as a response to Trump-era politics, while Trump has previously encouraged supporters to boycott the singer’s concerts and publicly insulted him on social media.
CBS announced in July 2025 that “The Late Show” franchise would come to an end after more than three decades on television. The decision came shortly after Colbert criticized CBS News over its agreement to pay Trump $16 million to settle a defamation lawsuit connected to a “60 Minutes” interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Paramount has continued to insist that ending the program was strictly a financial decision and not related to politics or the show’s content. However, critics and media observers have questioned whether the move was influenced by the company’s merger with Skydance Media. The merger was completed in August 2025, with David Ellison becoming CEO of Paramount Skydance. David is the son of billionaire businessman Larry Ellison, who has been known as a major Trump supporter and donor.
The episode also featured appearances from several well-known celebrities, including Billy Crystal, Robert De Niro, Aubrey Plaza, Mark Hamill, Martha Stewart and Colbert’s wife, Evie Colbert.
Thursday night’s broadcast will officially close the chapter on Colbert’s nearly 11-year run as host of “The Late Show.” Since taking over for David Letterman in 2015, Colbert has hosted more than 1,800 episodes and became one of the most recognizable faces in late-night television.
Sources:
CBS
Paramount Global
Skydance Media
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” broadcast episode
