Former President Accuses CBS and 60 Minutes of Election Interference, Demands License Revocation
President Donald Trump has reignited his battle with mainstream media, this time calling for CBS to lose its broadcast license. In a fiery Truth Social post, Trump accused CBS and 60 Minutes of participating in an “unprecedented scandal” by allegedly altering a public figure’s response to make them appear more favorable.
“A giant Fake News Scam by CBS & 60 Minutes,” Trump wrote. “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. A FAKE NEWS SCAM, which is totally illegal.”
Unprecedented Scandal
He followed up with a call to action: “TAKE AWAY THE CBS LICENSE. Election Interference. She is a Moron, and the Fake News Media wants to hide that fact. An UNPRECEDENTED SCANDAL!!! The Dems got them to do this and should be forced to concede the Election? WOW!”
Trump’s call comes at a critical moment as tensions over media bias and election integrity remain high. The former president often labels major outlets as “fake news” and rightly argues that biased media coverage undermines American democracy. His demand for CBS to lose its broadcast license comes as he accuses CBS of manipulating information to protect Harris and deceive the American people. The information came to light after CBS published clips of the interview with Harris and then in the TV edition, Harris’s responses were edited, condensed, and clear.
FCC Issues Broadcast License
Broadcast licenses in the United States are issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the regulatory body that ensures media outlets operate in the public interest. While the FCC has the power to revoke licenses. In 1969, WLBT-TV in Jackson, Mississippi, lost its license for controversial content.
Trump’s latest remarks take on a deeper irony in light of recent legislative developments in California. Just this week, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill that makes the creation and distribution of deceptive “deepfake” videos illegal. The law specifically targets the use of manipulated media in political campaigns or public appearances—precisely the kind of media manipulation Trump has accused CBS of engaging in.
Trump’s demand once again throws a spotlight on the importance of an independent, free press that serves the American people instead of catering to a political ideology. The American people deserve to know who Kamala Harris really is outside of teleprompters, prepared remarks, and hacked debates. The media has a responsibility to the American people and the press must be held accountable for shaping influencing public perception and what appears to be the intentional misleading of the American people through media manipulation.
The Battle for Public Opinion
Trump’s supporters are likely to rally behind his calls for action, while critics dismiss the claims as part of a larger political strategy. Nevertheless, the former president’s words—combined with the recent OMG Media footage of MSNBC executive admitting the network more or less works for the DNC. Increased scrutiny on mainstream media outlets as questions surrounding journalistic integrity continue to grow. The battle over what constitutes real news and media manipulation has never been more intense.
The question remains: will Trump’s call for CBS to be punished galvanize his base or lead to any official inquiries? FCC Chairwoman, Jessica Rosenworcel issued a response defending the First Amendment and failed to address manipulated or deceptive content by a major broadcaster. “As I’ve said before, the First Amendment is a cornerstone of our democracy. The FCC does not and will not revoke licenses for broadcast stations simply because a political candidate disagrees with or dislikes content or coverage.”
The Harris campaign responded to the allegations in a statement saying, “We do not control CBS’s production decisions.”
