() CBS late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert offered defiant support Thursday for colleague Jimmy Kimmel, whose show was pulled this week from ABC airwaves over comments Kimmel made about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

During the taping of his show, Colbert blamed the Trump administration for Kimmel’s cancellation, calling the president “an autocrat,” according to reports published before “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” was broadcast Thursday evening.

“Jimmy, I stand with you and your staff 100%” said Colbert, who dedicated Thursday’s program to free speech.

Colbert himself is considered by some to be a casualty of the Trump administration. CBS announced this summer it was ending “The Late Show” in May 2026, citing the expense of producing the New York-based program. The announcement came as CBS owner Paramount sought federal approval for a merger with Skydance Media. Some critics believe the decision was more about appeasing Trump, a longtime target of late-night barbs, than saving money.

The demise of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” came Wednesday after Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr expressed displeasure over Kimmel’s comments that Trump’s political base was trying to score points for Kirk’s death.

Kirk, a conservative activist and Trump ally, was assassinated Sept. 10 during a speaking event at a Utah university.

During the show, Kimmel said Trump supporters were “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”

Nexstar, owner of , said it would preempt Kimmel’s show on its ABC affiliates before the network itself announced the show was being pulled indefinitely.

David Letterman, Jon Stewart and Jimmy Fallon on Jimmy Kimmel cancellation

Another veteran of late-night television, David Letterman, said the cancellation signals a troubling future for the media landscape. He said he never felt the heat from the FCC during his years spent poking fun at different administrations.

“The institution of the president of the United States ought to be bigger than a guy doing a talk show,” Letterman said.

Letterman said he had been in contact with Kimmel, who is doing “fine.”

Jon Stewart on Thursday addressed Kimmel’s situation with satire in a special appearance outside of his typical Monday hosting duties for “The Daily Show.”

“We have another fun, hilarious administration-compliant show,” a voice-over promised at the start of the show.

“The Daily Show” set was refashioned with decorative gold engravings, in a parody of gold accents Trump has added to the fireplace, doorway arches, walls and other areas of the Oval Office.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Fallon opened “The Tonight Show” with a monologue expressing hope for the return of Kimmel, whom he called “a decent, funny and loving guy.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.