Former President Donald Trump made headlines on Thursday by demanding that CBS News lose its broadcasting license due to what he claims was a misleading edit of a recent “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Trump’s remarks followed the airing of the interview, which he had previously declined to participate in.
The controversy erupted after CBS aired Harris’s interview on Monday, where Trump pointed out that a shorter version of her response to a question about Israel was presented than what was shown in a promotional clip.
In a post on his social media platform, Trump accused CBS of manipulating the interview to protect Harris, stating, “Her REAL ANSWER WAS CRAZY, OR DUMB, so they actually REPLACED it with another answer in order to save her or, at least, make her look better.”
He labeled the situation a “FAKE NEWS SCAM,” claiming it was “totally illegal,” and demanded that CBS have its license revoked.
Notably, the federal government does not issue licenses for television networks, making Trump’s demand technically unfeasible.
During a speech later that day in Detroit, Trump reiterated his stance, branding the edited interview as “the single biggest scandal in broadcast history.”
He also accused Democrats of orchestrating the alleged deception, calling it “Election Interference” and insisting that the party should concede the election.
Trump’s remarks have sparked a renewed debate over media ethics and the responsibilities of news organizations in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, the fallout from this incident may further influence public perceptions of media integrity.
