President Donald Trump has expressed a desire that the Federal Communications Commission take action against CBS over what he perceives as biased reporting from the network’s flagship program, “60 Minutes.”
Trump, apparently displeased with the latest episode of “60 Minutes” aired Sunday night, took to Truth Social to air his frustrations. His remarks highlighted his ongoing legal clash with CBS and its parent company, Paramount Global, which is currently waiting for the FCC to approve a planned merger with Skydance Media.
In his social media post, Trump specifically mentioned Brendan Carr, whom he appointed to the FCC and praised as “Highly Respected.” Trump said he hopes Carr “will impose the maximum fines and punishment, which is substantial, for their unlawful and illegal behavior.”
However, there is no indication that CBS has committed any illegal acts. Moreover, Carr has limited power to impose penalties on the network. The most the FCC can currently do is delay the merger’s approval, which has already added a layer of uncertainty for Paramount Global.
This latest post is part of a broader trend in which Trump encourages officials he placed in government roles to take steps against media organizations critical of him. In recent months, Carr has leaned into his pro-Trump stance and has opened FCC probes into several networks Trump has taken issue with, including ABC and NBC. Carr was even seen last week sporting a gold pin that depicted the silhouette of Trump’s head.
Carr has not commented on Trump’s latest post on Truth Social, despite inquiries from CNN.
Trump’s issue with “60 Minutes” goes beyond this week’s broadcast. He used his social media platform to accuse the show of being more of a political tool than a legitimate news program. “They are not a ‘News Show,’ but a dishonest Political Operative simply disguised as ‘News,’ and must be responsible for what they have done, and are doing,” Trump wrote.
He further claimed that CBS “should lose their license” after airing two reports on Sunday—one centered on the war in Ukraine and another focusing on Greenland. Although the FCC does not license national networks like CBS, it does regulate local stations owned by the network. During the 2024 campaign, Trump frequently called for licenses to be revoked from media outlets he disliked.
This isn’t the first time Trump has made such a suggestion since assuming office. In fact, CBS has been a recurring target of his licensing threats.
Trump has had a complicated relationship with “60 Minutes” over the years. Despite being a regular viewer, he has often taken issue with how the show covers him. Last fall, he refused the program’s customary pre-election interview. When Vice President Kamala Harris agreed to appear on the show in his absence, Trump took offense.
Trump and his media allies criticized CBS for what they considered misleading editing of Harris’s interview. Specifically, they were upset that the network aired parts of her answer on different days. CBS defended the decision, saying the interview was edited for length in line with standard news practices. Trump, however, characterized the move as a deliberate attempt to help Harris’s campaign.
In response, Trump filed a lawsuit in Texas, accusing CBS of violating the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act, a consumer protection statute. Legal experts widely dismissed the lawsuit as lacking merit, viewing it more as a political maneuver than a serious legal challenge.
Despite the frivolous nature of the case, some executives at Paramount began looking into ways to settle the matter, even as journalists at “60 Minutes” strongly opposed such a move.
CBS complied with the FCC by submitting the raw transcript and video of the Harris interview, clearly demonstrating that the editing followed typical broadcast standards. Nonetheless, Carr kept the investigation ongoing and opened it up for public comment.
While no settlement has yet been reached, some insiders at Paramount reportedly feel it might be in the company’s interest to avoid an extended legal standoff with Trump. The New York Times recently noted that some Paramount officials believe the company’s “broader corporate interests are not served by fighting a protracted legal battle” with a combative president.
As of now, the legal dispute remains unresolved, and CBS continues to contest Trump’s claims in court.
In the meantime, “60 Minutes” has not deviated from its editorial mission, continuing to air interviews and investigative reports. Many of these segments have scrutinized Trump’s policies. Even Trump admitted this on Truth Social, stating the program includes stories about him “almost every week,” which he described as “derogatory and defamatory.”
Brendan Nyhan, a political scientist and co-founder of Bright Line Watch, which tracks risks to American democratic institutions, offered his take on Trump’s rhetoric. “The president openly calls for his loyalist apparatchik at the FCC to use state power to punish media for critical coverage,” he said, summarizing Trump’s Truth Social post.
The pressure from Trump and his allies is keenly felt by journalists at CBS. “60 Minutes” correspondent Lesley Stahl acknowledged this during a recent industry event where she accepted a First Amendment Award.
In her speech, Stahl emphasized the importance of press freedom during such contentious times. “Our precious First Amendment feels vulnerable and when my precious 60 Minutes is fighting, quite frankly, for our life,” she said.
Stahl added that she was proud the program was maintaining its journalistic integrity in the face of mounting external pressures. “I am so proud,” she said, that “60 Minutes” is “standing up and fighting for what is right.”
With Trump remaining vocal about his discontent with the press and his attempts to use regulatory bodies as leverage against critics, the standoff between the president and the media appears far from over. CBS and “60 Minutes” continue to find themselves at the center of this battle, defending both their editorial decisions and the principles of a free press.
