Former President Donald Trump has called for CBS to be shut down after the network released the full transcript and footage of Vice President Kamala Harris’ controversial 60 Minutes interview, which is now under investigation by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Trump accused CBS of “defrauding the public” with manipulated editing, claiming on Truth Social that the network removed Harris’ original responses and replaced them with “completely different, far better, answers” from another part of the interview.
“This is election-changing stuff,” Trump said, despite having won the race against Harris. He has since filed a $10 billion lawsuit against CBS, alleging “deceitful” editing and “news distortion” after a promotional clip showed Harris giving a long-winded response about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Scrutiny intensified when the full transcript revealed discrepancies between Harris’ responses in the unaired footage and what was broadcast. A question about the Israel-Hamas war was edited down from a rambling 140-word reaction to just 56 words, while another answer regarding Netanyahu’s actions was shortened from 179 words to only 20.
Trump’s demand for the full transcript was met on Wednesday after pressure from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who can revoke licenses for CBS-owned stations. The FCC has since opened a public review into the allegations.
“CBS should lose its license, and the cheaters at 60 Minutes should all be thrown out,” Trump wrote, calling it “the biggest broadcasting SCANDAL in history.”
Carr confirmed to Fox News that the FCC is reviewing the matter and seeking public comment.
Former CBS investigative journalist Catherine Herridge also criticised the network, saying Harris’ “word salad responses” were “heavily condensed into a final broadcast segment that felt succinct and presidential.” She questioned whether 60 Minutes would have extended the same editing treatment to Trump.
CBS has denied any wrongdoing, stating that the transcript confirms the interview was not “doctored or deceitful.”
Meanwhile, Trump and CBS are reportedly in early settlement talks over his lawsuit, which has caused tensions among network staff.
The controversy comes as Paramount’s $8 billion merger with Skydance is set to close next month. Media heiress Shari Redstone is expected to receive $1.75 billion as part of the deal.
The FCC, an independent federal agency, issues broadcast licenses to individual stations for eight-year terms rather than regulating entire networks. If the investigation finds evidence of misleading editing, it could impact regulatory approval for the Paramount-Skydance merger.
