Former President Donald Trump has escalated his legal battle against CBS, calling for the cancellation of the network’s long-running newsmagazine, 60 Minutes, in response to a controversial interview involving Vice President Kamala Harris. The legal conflict, which began in late 2024, centers around a $10 billion lawsuit filed by Trump, accusing CBS and 60 Minutes of misleading voters by airing two different edits of Harris’ comments about the 2024 presidential election.
Trump’s legal filing, submitted in November 2024 to the Northern District of Texas, alleges that the edits of the interview — which aired in the run-up to the election — misrepresented Harris’ answers, potentially influencing the outcome of the election. The lawsuit claims that CBS swapped the original answers with “far better” responses taken from another part of the interview, effectively “fraudulently” altering the context of Harris’ remarks. In a social media post following the filing, Trump decried what he called an “election-changing” manipulation of Harris’ comments, accusing CBS of participating in “Election Interference” and “Election Fraud.”
“CBS and 60 Minutes defrauded the public by doing something which has never, to this extent, been seen before,” Trump wrote. “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 went on to demand severe consequences for CBS, suggesting the network should lose its broadcasting license, despite the fact that CBS does not hold a direct license, as those are issued to local affiliates. He further hinted at potential corruption, questioning whether CBS had been paid to engage in what he described as a fraudulent act.
“This will go down as the biggest Broadcasting SCANDAL in History!!!” Trump added in his post.
The legal case and Trump’s public statements have drawn sharp responses from both CBS and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). CBS News, in a statement issued Wednesday, defended the 60 Minutes segment, stating that the edits in question were consistent with prior assurances that the broadcast was neither doctored nor deceptive. The network also released unedited transcripts of the interview to counter claims of misconduct.
“We stand by the integrity of our reporting and the way this interview was presented,” CBS said. “The materials provided, including the unedited transcript, show that the broadcast was not doctored in any way.”
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However, the controversy has intensified with the FCC, which has requested copies of the tapes and transcripts from CBS. The situation revolves around two different versions of Harris’ remarks: one version that aired in a brief teaser on Face the Nation and another that appeared in the full 60 Minutes segment. These discrepancies have led to accusations of deceptive practices from both Trump and FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, a Republican who has voiced concerns over the issue.
“This is a rare situation where we have extrinsic evidence that CBS played one answer or one set of words and then swapped in another set,” Carr said during an appearance on Fox News. “CBS’s conduct through this, frankly, has been concerning.”
However, some members of the FCC have pushed back, arguing that the issue is politically motivated. Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez criticized the investigation, asserting that there was no clear evidence of wrongdoing. “The transcript and footage of this interview provide no evidence that CBS and its affiliated broadcast stations violated FCC rules,” she said. “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.”
Inside CBS, the controversy has sparked significant concern, particularly within the offices of 60 Minutes. According to individuals familiar with the matter, parent company Paramount Global is weighing the possibility of a settlement, potentially as part of a broader strategy to facilitate its deal to sell the company to Skydance Media. However, Bill Owens, the executive producer of 60 Minutes, has reassured staff that the network will not apologize for its editorial decisions.
“There’s no reason for the company to settle this suit,” Owens reportedly told senior executives at Paramount. “We stand by the quality of our journalism, and we will continue to produce high-quality content. Our team remains focused on the work, and we will not compromise our editorial independence.”
The legal and public relations battle over the 60 Minutes interview represents the latest chapter in Trump’s ongoing feud with the media. While legal experts believe the lawsuit is unlikely to succeed, the political ramifications of the case and the attention it has garnered are significant.
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As the conflict unfolds, CBS faces increasing scrutiny over its editorial practices and how it handles politically charged content, especially in an election year. The outcome of this legal battle could have lasting implications for media practices and the regulation of broadcast journalism.
The situation is still developing, and it remains to be seen how CBS will respond to both the legal challenges and the political pressures surrounding this controversy. As of now, the network is determined to continue defending its coverage and editorial choices.
