CBS News recently responded to allegations made by former President Donald Trump, who accused the network of deceitful editing in a recent “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. CBS News countered these claims, explaining the editing was done to ensure Harris’ response was “more succinct” while preserving its accuracy and clarity.
The dispute started after the broadcast of the Harris interview earlier this month, in which two different answers to the same question were aired on separate CBS programs. Trump and his supporters quickly pointed out the inconsistency, charging the network with editing the interview to make the Democratic nominee appear more adept.
In a statement shared on Sunday evening, CBS News addressed the growing criticism: “Former President Donald Trump is accusing ’60 Minutes’ of deceitful editing of our Oct. 7, 2024 interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. That is false.”
The network clarified that a lengthier segment of Harris’ response was given to “Face the Nation,” while a more succinct version was aired on “60 Minutes.” CBS News stressed that both segments featured the “same question. Same answer,” with different parts of Harris’ response being highlighted.
Defending its editing practices, CBS News stated, “When we edit any interview, whether a politician, an athlete, or movie star, we strive to be clear, accurate, and on point. The portion of her answer on “60 Minutes” was more succinct, which allows time for other subjects in a wide-ranging 21-minute-long segment.”
The interview mainly revolved around the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with Harris answering questions about U.S. relations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A teaser clip of Harris’ interview, nearly two and a half minutes long, was first shown on “Face the Nation” on October 6. However, her response was reduced to a single sentence in the “60 Minutes” broadcast the following day.
Trump, who had declined to participate in the “60 Minutes” pre-election special, criticized Harris and the network on social media. He claimed that Harris gave a “horrible, incompetent answer.” He also accused CBS News of replacing it with “a much shorter answer that you had to do with a totally different subject, which also didn’t make sense, but it wasn’t as incompetent.”
The former President has hinted at legal action, expressing his intention to subpoena CBS News’ records to probe the alleged editing. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump’s campaign, interpreted CBS News’ statement as not a denial but an admission of the accusations.
In response to the escalating controversy, CBS News has reiterated its longstanding invitation for Trump to appear on “60 Minutes.” The network expressed its readiness to host him for a discussion about national issues and the Harris interview.
The scandal has been further complicated by the disclosure that CBS News chief executive Wendy McMahon had previously donated over $6,000 to Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign and Democratic fundraising platforms while working at ABC. It’s important to note that CBS News employees are forbidden from making political donations. McMahon was not directly involved in editing the Harris interview.
FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has commented on Trump’s calls to revoke CBS’s broadcast license. Rosenworcel noted that although repeated attacks on broadcast stations by the former President may have become common, these threats against free speech are grave and should not be dismissed. She emphasized that the FCC does not revoke licenses due to political disagreements over content or coverage.
The incident has sparked renewed debates about media bias, editorial choices, and the responsibility of news organizations in political reporting as both sides continue to defend their stances.