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New York — Bruce Springsteen used a May 20, 2026 appearance on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” to deliver an extended, unusually direct on-air critique of U.S. media executives and President Donald Trump during the penultimate episode of Colbert’s tenure. Speaking at length before a live solo acoustic performance, the 76-year-old musician addressed Colbert directly and condemned what he described as corporate and political interference in late-night television. He named Larry Ellison and David Ellison of Skydance Media, which recently secured control of Paramount Global and the CBS broadcast network, and said they felt driven by economic interests to flatter the current administration to advance their business objectives. Springsteen further alleged that federal political pressure played a major role in the network transition, arguing that Colbert was effectively losing his long-running late-night platform because the sitting president could not tolerate satirical public humor. He characterized the media executives and political figures involved as small-minded and lacking a basic understanding of constitutional liberties. After the remarks, Springsteen performed a specialized acoustic version of his protest song “Streets of Minneapolis,” framed by large stage visuals bearing the words “Resistance,” “Hope,” and “Truth.” The broadcast quickly drew extensive digital reaction, while Paramount Global, CBS and the White House all declined immediate public comment, and the guest lineup for Colbert’s final episode remains undisclosed.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.