Donald Trump is making waves with his lawsuit against CBS News. The case expanded this week after CBS released an unedited transcript and raw footage from a “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump’s legal team filed an updated complaint, adding CBS’s parent company, Paramount Global, to the lawsuit. The expansion follows CBS airing the election special on its Paramount+ streaming platform.
New plaintiff joins the case
But there’s more. The lawsuit now includes Rep. Ronny Jackson from Texas as a plaintiff. Jackson claims to be a consumer of news content and argues that CBS’s actions have harmed him. The amended complaint features excerpts from the newly released transcript, hoping to strengthen Trump’s accusations that CBS distorted the interview to favor Harris.
Trump claims ‘gross broadcast distortion’
Trump’s legal team insists that CBS engaged in “gross broadcast distortion.” They argue that CBS manipulated the interview, especially Harris’s responses, to assist her in the lead-up to the 2024 election. One key moment involved CBS correspondent Bill Whitaker questioning Harris about the sharp increase in border crossings under the Biden administration. Trump’s attorneys say Harris’s response was a confusing “word salad.”
The controversial border question
In one exchange from the raw footage, Harris explained the surge in immigration by pointing to global factors and irregular migration. She emphasized the need for leaders to focus on solutions. Critics argue her response was evasive, and Trump’s lawyers believe CBS intentionally covered up this weakness.
In addition to the lawsuit, Trump’s attorneys have filed a FOIA request with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to obtain all records related to their case against CBS. The request also includes documents from former FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel. Neither CBS nor Paramount Global commented when Fox News reached out.
FCC investigates CBS News editing
The drama doesn’t stop there. On Wednesday, the FCC released the raw transcript and footage from the interview. These documents revealed that CBS News aired only portions of Harris’s response regarding Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s strained relationship with the Biden administration. The preview clip showed just the first half of Harris’s answer, while the full response aired later in the primetime special. Critics argue this was a deliberate move to avoid backlash.
Trump’s lawsuit accuses CBS of election interference
Trump’s legal team believes CBS made these edits to shield Harris from negative press. Conservatives mocked her long-winded responses, and Trump’s attorneys argue the network aimed to protect Harris from further criticism. In their view, CBS distorted the interview to help the Democratic candidate.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has publicly questioned CBS News’ actions. He pointed out that CBS quickly released an unedited transcript of a recent interview with Vice President JD Vance, while it took months to release Harris’s full interview. The FCC has opened an investigation, and Carr has stated that transparency is essential.
Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit
In October 2024, Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against CBS News, accusing the network of election interference. The former president claims CBS’s editing was a deliberate attempt to boost Harris just days before the election. Trump’s legal team argues that CBS crossed the line from judgment in reporting to “deceptive manipulation” of news.
Trump’s lawyers assert that CBS’s biased editing worked to the advantage of the Democratic Party, with Trump leading in the polls at the time. They argue the network’s actions were designed to mislead voters and confuse the public, tipping the scales in favor of the Democrats.
Paramount Global may settle the case
Paramount Global is reportedly considering settling the lawsuit. The media giant is in the midst of a multibillion-dollar merger with Skydance Media, and settling the case could help avoid a prolonged battle with Trump’s FCC. Sources say Shari Redstone, Paramount’s controlling shareholder, is open to settling to prevent any negative impact on the deal.
The controversy surrounding the “60 Minutes” interview continues to fuel tensions between Trump and the media. With Trump’s legal team determined to hold CBS accountable and the possibility of a settlement looming, this lawsuit is far from over. The outcome could have significant consequences for both CBS and Paramount Global.
