President Donald Trump has called for the cancellation of CBS’s “60 Minutes” amid allegations of interview manipulation involving Vice President Kamala Harris.
At a Glance
- Trump demands “60 Minutes” be terminated over alleged edited Harris interview
- Former president files $10 billion lawsuit against CBS for alleged election interference
- CBS denies accusations, releases unedited transcripts to support their position
- FCC Commissioners divided on the merit of investigating the matter
- Lawsuit comes as Paramount Global considers potential sale to Skydance Media
Trump’s Allegations and Legal Action
In a bold move that has intensified his ongoing feud with mainstream media, former President Donald Trump has called for the cancellation of CBS’s long-running newsmagazine “60 Minutes.” The demand comes in the wake of a $10 billion lawsuit filed by Trump against the program in November, alleging that it misled voters by editing an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Trump’s lawsuit claims that CBS replaced Harris’ original answers with different ones, accusing the network of election interference and fraud. The President’s statement on the matter was characteristically forceful:
“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,” Trump said.
CBS’s Response and FCC Involvement
In response, CBS has released unedited transcripts of the Harris interview, asserting that the broadcast was neither doctored nor deceitful. The network stands firm on the integrity of its journalism, with “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens and CBS executive Wendy McMahon opposing any settlement of the lawsuit.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has requested tapes and transcripts related to the interview, with discrepancies in edits being a focal point of their inquiry. However, opinions within the FCC are divided on the merits of the case.
“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,” FCC leader Brendan Carr said.
In contrast, Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez sees no evidence of rule violations:
“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,” Gomez said.
Potential Impact on CBS and Media Landscape
The lawsuit and subsequent controversy come at a critical time for CBS’s parent company, Paramount Global. Reports suggest that the company is considering a settlement to facilitate a potential sale to Skydance Media.
Legal experts have suggested that Trump’s lawsuit lacks substantial legal merit. However, the case has reignited debates about media bias, journalistic integrity, and the relationship between political figures and news outlets.
The outcome of this lawsuit and the FCC’s investigation could have far-reaching implications for the media industry, potentially influencing how news organizations handle interviews with high-profile political figures in the future.
