Why is Trump suing CBS? What to know about complaint dating back to Kamala Harris interview
Why is Trump suing CBS? What to know about complaint dating back to Kamala Harris interview
Show Caption
Hide Caption
'60 Minutes' producer Bill Owens resigns over editorial concerns
Executive producer of CBS News' '60 Minutes,' Bill Owens, has stepped down from his role, citing concerns over editorial and journalistic independence.
unbranded - Entertainment
The president and CEO of CBS News resigned from her position, the latest in an ongoing legal tussle between the network and President Donald Trump that started back in the 2024 presidential campaign.
Wendy McMahon told staff in a memo she was leaving because she had disagreed with the company, according to Reuters.
CBS News is facing a $20 billion lawsuit from Trump over how it edited his former opponent Kamala Harris' answer to a question on the U.S.-Israeli relationship in an October 2025 interview on "60 Minutes."
Trump has long railed against the media, and the lawsuit against CBS is playing out amid several pushes from the administration that are alarming press freedom advocates. Here is what to know about the lawsuit.
Can I still tune in to PBS and NPR? What to know after Trump's order to cut funding
Why is Trump suing CBS News?
Trump first filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the network in October over allegations that it deceptively edited a '60 Minutes' interview with former Vice President Harris, his Democratic Party opponent in the presidential election.
Trump raised the claim for damages to $20 billion in February, according to Reuters.
CBS has repeatedly denied the accusations, and legal experts have told the New York Times the lawsuit is 'baseless.'
The lawsuit entered mediation last month, signaling that CBS's parent company Paramount Global could choose to settle, raising concerns over how that may embolden the administration's increasingly aggressive stance toward major media organizations, the New York Times reported.
Wendy McMahon departure follows Bill Owens' departure
McMahon's exit follows the departure of longtime "60 Minutes" executive producer Bill Owens in April.
Owens, who announced he would leave the venerated show at the end of the season, cited concerns about editorial independence, according to a memo seen by Reuters.
Owens said it had 'become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it,' according to a note to staffers, CBS reported.
Did CBS News edit Kamala Harris' '60 Minutes' interview?
Yes. It is standard practice among news outlets to edit to fit time or space constraints, experts previously told USA TODAY.
During a teaser clip for the interview on Oct. 6 on 'Face the Nation' when Bill Whitaker asks Harris about the U.S.-Israeli relationship, viewers see a different video response from the vice president than on the subsequent '60 Minutes' broadcast on Oct. 7.
Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com. Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @kinseycrowley.bsky.social.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
8 minutes ago
- New York Post
Trump speaks with Putin, says ‘not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace' with Ukraine
WASHINGTON — President Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, saying it was 'not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace' between Russia and Ukraine. 'We discussed the attack on Russia's docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides,' Trump announced after the 75-minute talk with the Kremlin tyrant. 'President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.' Trump had a phone call with Vladimir Putin after Ukraine's attack on Russian subs in Russia's far east. AP The two also spoke about Iran, during which Putin suggested that Russia could potentially get involved in sealing a revised nuclear deal with Tehran. 'I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement,' Trump wrote. 'President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion. It is my opinion that Iran has been slowwalking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!'
CNN
10 minutes ago
- CNN
Trump says Putin told him in phone call he will respond to Ukraine's weekend drone attacks
President Donald Trump said he spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, but that the conversation would not yield an immediate end to the war in Ukraine. The call came after an audacious Ukrainian drone attack on Russian airfields over the weekend. Trump said he discussed the matter with Putin in their 75-minute phone call. 'We discussed the attack on Russia's docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace.' 'President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields,' he went on. Trump said he also discussed Iran with Putin as he works to complete a nuclear agreement with Tehran. 'We also discussed Iran, and the fact that time is running out on Iran's decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly!' he wrote. 'I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement.' He said Putin would likely join discussions with Iran. 'President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion. It is my opinion that Iran has been slowwalking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!' Trump wrote. This is a breaking story and will be updated.
CNBC
11 minutes ago
- CNBC
Trump says he spoke to Putin, predicts no 'immediate' peace for Russia and Ukraine
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he spoke with Russian leader Vladimir Putin for well over an hour about Ukraine's latest attack on Russian airplanes and nuclear talks with Iran. Putin in that call vowed retaliation against Ukraine for the stunning surprise attack, which Kyiv said resulted in strikes on more than 40 Russian bombers, Trump said. "It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields," the president added. Trump's post did not say if he discouraged Putin from taking that action. The call with Putin lasted about 75 minutes, Trump said. This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.
