Trump shares AI video of Stephen Colbert being thrown into dumpster after Late Show finale
Photo: Reuters
US President Donald Trump has sparked backlash online after posting an AI-generated video depicting former late-night host Stephen Colbert being thrown into a dumpster.
The video, shared Friday night on Trump’s Truth Social account, shows Colbert onstage during the taping of the final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert before an animated version of Trump approaches him from behind, lifts him up, and tosses him into a trash bin. The clip then cuts to Trump dancing to Y.M.C.A. by Village People.
The official White House account on X also reposted the AI-generated clip alongside the caption, “Bye-bye.”
Bye-bye 👋 pic.twitter.com/5dPeXDflyh
Trump later celebrated the end of Colbert’s show in a separate social media post, calling the comedian “finished at CBS” and claiming his departure marked “the beginning of the end” for other late-night hosts critical of him.
Colbert wrapped up his 11-year run on CBS Thursday night with a finale that avoided direct political jokes and instead focused on celebrity cameos and musical performances. The episode ended with Paul McCartney joining Colbert for a rendition of “Hello, Goodbye.”
CBS parent company Paramount previously said financial reasons led to the cancellation of The Late Show, though the move sparked controversy because of the network’s relationship with Trump and the company’s ongoing merger discussions.
The AI video quickly spread across social media, where critics accused Trump of using artificial intelligence to mock political opponents and fuel online hostility. Others defended the post as satire and political trolling.
The incident is the latest example of AI-generated political content becoming increasingly common online, particularly involving public figures and viral social media attacks.