Trump Threatens CBS with Lawsuit Over Edited Interview, Warns Leavitt

In a recent interview, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt strongly threatened CBS News, warning that President Donald Trump would pursue legal action if the network edited his comments. This incident occurred after Trump’s 13-minute interview with CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil in Michigan.

Leavitt’s Warning to CBS News

Immediately following the taping, Leavitt stated, “Make sure you guys don’t cut the tape, make sure the interview is out in full.” Reports indicate that her warning was serious and not meant as a joke, despite some CBS employees reacting with surprise. Leavitt emphasized, “If it’s not out in full, we’ll sue your ass off,” suggesting a firm stance on the terms of the interview’s airing.

Network’s Response

• CBS News had already planned to air the interview in full.
• A spokesperson affirmed that the decision to present it unedited was made independently.
• Leavitt confirmed that the audience deserved to see Trump’s full remarks without cuts.

Despite the tension, CBS executives, including Kim Harvey, the executive producer, appeared to joke in response to Leavitt’s comments, indicating that they believed the threat may have been exaggerated.

Trump’s History with CBS

This is not the first occasion where Trump has taken legal action against CBS. He previously sued the network over a edited 60 Minutes interview featuring Kamala Harris, accusing it of deceptive editing. This lawsuit resulted in a $16 million settlement for CBS’s corporate parent, Paramount, prompting various criticisms.

Shifts in CBS Leadership

In the aftermath of the settlement, Trump facilitated a deal that allowed Paramount to be sold to Skydance, whose CEO, David Ellison, subsequently appointed Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief. Weiss’s hiring raised concerns among network journalists regarding her qualifications and potential bias towards the Trump administration.

Controversy Around Weiss

Weiss has faced scrutiny for her editorial choices, including a contentious story about an ICE agent, which was covered despite internal skepticism from CBS reporters. Additionally, Weiss’s interaction with Trump during a previous 60 Minutes interview sparked interest, as both seemed pleased to see each other.

As the situation evolves, the ramifications of Leavitt’s threat to CBS News remains to be seen, particularly regarding how media outlets will navigate coverage of Trump’s communication and their obligations to the public.