Former President Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion lawsuit against CBS News, alleging deceptive editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris.
At a Glance
- Trump sues CBS News for $10 billion over a “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris
- Lawsuit alleges CBS engaged in “deceptive conduct” and “partisan and unlawful acts of election and voter interference”
- Trump’s legal team claims the interview was “deceptively” edited to favor Democrats
- CBS denies allegations, calling the lawsuit meritless and insisting their editing strives for accuracy
Trump’s Allegations Against CBS News
In a bold move that underscores the contentious relationship between media and politics, former President Donald Trump has launched a $10 billion lawsuit against CBS News. The legal action, filed in the Northern District of Texas as Trump v. CBS Broadcasting Inc. No.2:24-cv-236, centers on a “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Trump’s legal team alleges that CBS engaged in “deceptive conduct” and “partisan and unlawful acts of election and voter interference” through news distortion. The lawsuit also claims that the interview was intentionally edited to mislead viewers about Trump’s policies and character, potentially interfering with the election.
Donald Trump Sues CBS News, Seeking $10 Billion in '60 Minutes' Lawsuit https://t.co/dR4iiRIJup via @Variety
— Todd Spangler (@xpangler) November 1, 2024
The Controversial Interview
The crux of the lawsuit surrounds CBS airing two different answers from Harris about the Israel-Hamas conflict. The initial preview allegedly showed a less concise answer compared to the final broadcast.
“Well, Bill … the work that we have done has resulted in a number of movements in that region by Israel that were very much prompted by or a result of many things, including our advocacy for what needs to happen in the region,” Vice President Kamala Harris said in the interview.
Trump has demanded the full, unedited transcript of the interview, suggesting that the editing could be a major scandal. However, CBS has refused to release the transcript, citing First Amendment protections.
The network vehemently denies Trump’s allegations, calling the lawsuit meritless. Producers insist that their editing strives to be clear, accurate, and on point. A CBS spokesperson stated, “60 MINUTES fairly presented the Interview to inform the viewing audience, and not to mislead it. The lawsuit Trump has brought today against CBS is completely without merit and we will vigorously defend against it.”
The network acknowledges trimming Harris’ answer for time constraints but maintains that this was not done to mislead viewers. CBS argues that the interview was not doctored and that their editing practices are standard in the industry.
Implications for Media and Politics
The case promises to revamp discussions on media accountability and the power dynamics between public figures and news organizations.
“CBS’ partisan and unlawful acts of election and voter interference through malicious, deceptive, and substantial news distortion calculated to confuse, deceive, and mislead the public,” Trump’s attorneys said in the lawsuit.
Experts suggest that the outcome could have far-reaching implications for how political interviews are conducted and presented in the future. Many would argue that this is much needed.
