President Donald Trump demands CBS News’ “60 Minutes” be terminated over alleged misrepresentation of Kamala Harris interview.
Quick Takes
- Trump files $10 billion lawsuit against “60 Minutes” for alleged voter deception
- CBS denies accusations, releases unedited transcripts to prove integrity
- FCC investigates discrepancies in interview edits
- Legal experts question the lawsuit’s merit
- Paramount Global considers settlement amid potential sale to Skydance Media
Trump’s Allegations and Demands
President Donald Trump has escalated his long-standing feud with mainstream media, calling for the cancellation of CBS’s renowned newsmagazine “60 Minutes” amidst an ongoing legal battle. The controversy stems from a November 2024 interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, which Trump claims was manipulated to mislead voters.
Trump’s lawsuit, seeking $10 billion in damages, accuses “60 Minutes” of replacing Harris’s original responses with more favorable ones, alleging election interference and fraud. The former president’s strong reaction has reignited debates about media ethics and the presentation of political figures in news coverage.
“CBS and 60 Minutes defrauded the public by doing something which has never, to this extent, been seen before. They 100% removed Kamala’s horrible election changing answers to questions, and replaced them with completely different, and far better, answers, taken from another part of the interview. This was Election changing “stuff,” Election Interference and, quite simply, Election Fraud at a level never seen before. CBS should lose its license, and the cheaters at 60 Minutes should all be thrown out, and this disreputable “NEWS” show should be immediately terminated. With the new Democrat scandal that just arose with respect to USAID illegally paying large sums of money to Politico and other media outlets, the question must me asked, was CBS paid for committing this FRAUD??? Many other questions to come! This will go down as the biggest Broadcasting SCANDAL in History!!!,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
I watched the full, unedited video of the Kamala Harris interview + reviewed the full transcript as well as the segment that aired on CBS News.
I would encourage everyone who cares about fact driven journalism to do the same.@60Minutes did then-VP Harris a favor in the edit… pic.twitter.com/dna0iRno0W
— Catherine Herridge (@C__Herridge) February 6, 2025
CBS’s Response and FCC Investigation
In response to these serious allegations, CBS News has taken a firm stance, releasing unedited transcripts of the interview. The network maintains that the broadcast was neither doctored nor deceitful, defending the integrity of their journalism. However, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has requested tapes and transcripts related to the interview, focusing on the alleged discrepancies in edits.
The investigation has sparked a divide within the FCC. Republican FCC head Brendan Carr expressed concern over CBS’s conduct, while Democratic FCC commissioner Anna Gomez sees no evidence of rule violations. This split opinion reflects the broader political divide surrounding the issue.
“This is a rare situation where we have extrinsic evidence that CBS had played one answer or one set of words and then swapped in another set. And CBS’s conduct through this, frankly, has been concerning,” said Carr.
Legal Perspectives and Potential Settlement
Despite the gravity of Trump’s accusations, legal experts suggest that the lawsuit lacks substantial legal merit. This assessment raises questions about the motivations behind the legal action and its potential impact on public discourse regarding media integrity.
“The transcript and footage of this interview provide no evidence that CBS and its affiliated broadcast stations violated FCC rules. Having now seen these materials, I see no reason to continue pursuing this investigation. The FCC should now move to dismiss this fishing expedition to avoid further politicizing our enforcement actions,” said Gomez.
Adding another layer of complexity to the situation, Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS News, is reportedly considering a settlement. This consideration comes as the company explores a potential sale to Skydance Media, suggesting that financial and strategic interests may play a role in the resolution of this controversy.
Journalistic Integrity vs. Corporate Interests
The potential settlement has created internal friction at CBS News. “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens and CBS executive Wendy McMahon have voiced strong opposition to settling the lawsuit, emphasizing the need to protect the integrity of their journalism.
As this controversy unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in balancing fair reporting, political narratives, and corporate interests in today’s media landscape. The outcome of this dispute may have far-reaching implications for how news organizations handle politically sensitive content and respond to accusations of bias in the future.
