🔥 BREAKING: Trump ERUPTS After Stephen Colbert & Robert De Niro OBLITERATE Him LIVE On TV — Cameras Catch Total On-Air MELTDOWN ⚡

WASHINGTON — President Donald J. Trump’s long-running hostility toward Hollywood and late-night television erupted again this week after a series of pointed critiques from comedian Stephen Colbert and actor Robert De Niro, prompting an unusually personal response from the president and renewing questions about his relationship with American cultural institutions.

Mr. Trump, writing on his social media platform Truth Social, celebrated reports that CBS was ending The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, declaring that he “absolutely love[d] that Colbert got fired” and deriding the host’s talent and ratings. He added that “Jimmy Kimmel is next,” continuing a pattern of public attacks on late-night comedians who have become among his most persistent critics.

The post followed days of sustained mockery and criticism from Mr. Colbert, who has used his monologue to lampoon the president’s fixation on personal accolades, his enthusiasm for symbolic awards and his sensitivity to public ridicule. In one widely circulated segment, Mr. Colbert ridiculed Mr. Trump’s celebration of what he described as an honorary international peace award, comparing it to a “participation trophy” and holding up a satirical trophy of his own likeness. The studio audience responded with extended applause and chants, a moment that quickly spread across social media.

Mr. Colbert later told his audience that while the cancellation of his show was sobering, it had freed him from restraint. “They made one mistake,” he said. “They left me alive.” The comment was interpreted by viewers as a promise of intensified scrutiny during the remainder of the show’s run.

Mr. Trump’s reaction underscored a recurring feature of his political style: an unusually direct engagement with entertainers who criticize him. Unlike previous presidents, who generally avoided responding to late-night satire, Mr. Trump has repeatedly elevated such moments by answering them personally, often in caustic terms. Media analysts say the dynamic frequently benefits his critics by extending the news cycle.

The clash widened when Robert De Niro, the Oscar-winning actor and longtime Trump critic, renewed his condemnation of the president in public appearances and at international film events. Mr. De Niro, speaking earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival, described Mr. Trump as “a threat to democracy” and accused him of exploiting fear and division for personal gain. Similar remarks resurfaced in interviews and archival clips that circulated anew following Mr. Trump’s social media outburst.

Mr. De Niro’s criticism is not new. He has spoken out against Mr. Trump since the 2016 campaign, often emphasizing what he sees as the erosion of democratic norms and respect for institutions. What is notable, political observers say, is the degree to which the president appears personally affected by such criticism, particularly from figures who command cultural prestige.

“Trump has always craved validation from elite institutions — Hollywood, television, awards culture,” said a media historian who studies the presidency and popular culture. “When those institutions reject him, he doesn’t ignore them. He lashes out.”

That sensitivity has been especially visible in recent weeks, as Mr. Colbert highlighted Mr. Trump’s history with television fame, including his years hosting The Apprentice and his repeated complaints about never winning an Emmy Award. When The Late Show won an Emmy earlier this fall, Mr. Colbert noted the distinction on air, a moment that drew laughter but also underscored the personal dimension of the feud.

The dispute unfolded alongside broader criticism of the administration’s cultural policies, including cuts to arts funding and a proposal to impose steep tariffs on films produced outside the United States. Artists’ groups and studio executives have warned that such measures could harm an industry already struggling with global competition and shifting consumption habits.

For Mr. Trump’s supporters, the conflict reinforces his image as a combative outsider willing to challenge what they view as a hostile cultural elite. For his critics, it illustrates an inability to separate personal grievance from presidential responsibility.

“What you’re seeing is not just a feud with comedians,” said a former Republican communications adviser. “It’s a president who takes cultural rejection as a personal insult and responds with the full weight of his platform.”

Whether the episode will have lasting political consequences remains unclear. Polls suggest that while Mr. Trump’s core supporters remain loyal, fatigue with his rhetoric is growing among some independents and moderate Republicans. Cultural battles, once dismissed as sideshows, increasingly shape perceptions of leadership style and temperament.

As Mr. Colbert and Mr. De Niro continue to speak out, the confrontation shows no sign of ending. But for now, the exchange has reinforced a familiar pattern: in an era of polarized politics, satire and celebrity have become central arenas of political conflict — and President Trump remains deeply invested in winning them.