The timing of “The Late Show’s” cancellation has always been curious. After all, the news broke mere weeks before avowed Trump loyalists Larry and David Ellison finalized their takeover of the late-night series’ parent company, Paramount Global, and Trump gleefully celebrated the news of his frequent critic’s demise.

“I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert!” the president posted to Truth Social.

While Colbert has refrained from directly criticizing the Ellisons (and Trump) for giving his show the ax, he’s let his guests do the talking for him during the final weeks of “The Late Show.” His predecessor, David Letterman, tossed furniture off the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theater onto the CBS logo; Robert De Niro came on to jab Trump about the millions of missing Epstein files; and, joining De Niro in the penultimate “Late Show” episode, Bruce Springsteen introduced his anti-Trump anthem “Streets of Minneapolis,” about Trump deploying ICE across the U.S., with some haymakers.

“I am here in support tonight for Stephen because you’re the first guy in America who’s lost his show because we got a president who can’t take a joke,” said Springsteen.

Then, he aimed his ire at the Ellisons, adding, “And because Larry and David Ellison feel they need to kiss his ass to get what they want. Anyway, Stephen, these are small-minded people. They got no idea what the freedoms of this country are supposed to be about. This is for you.

Springsteen performed his somber new anthem “Streets of Minneapolis” in front of an image of the American flag projected against a brick wall behind him, accompanied by messages like “RESISTANCE,” “TRUTH,” and “HOPE.”

“Trump’s federal thugs beat up on his face and his chest, then we heard the gunshots and Alex Pretti lay in the snow dead,” he sang. “Their claim was self-defense, sir, just don’t believe your eyes. It’s our blood and bones and these whistles and phones against Miller and Noem’s dirty lies.”