President Donald Trump initiated a strong criticism against CBS and its parent company Paramount on Sunday, April 13, demanding “maximum fines and punishment” over the network’s “60 Minutes” broadcast.
Trump’s criticism focused on the program’s coverage of Ukraine and Greenland, as well as a previous interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris that is now involved in a $20 billion lawsuit.
In two separate posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused the long-running news program of being “a dishonest Political Operative simply disguised as ‘News'” that “must be responsible for what they have done.” Trump further suggested that CBS “should lose their license” for what he termed “unlawful and illegal behavior” in its reporting.
Trump specifically called on FCC Chair Brendan Carr, whom he appointed to the position, to impose “substantial” penalties against the network. “CBS is out of control, at levels never seen before, and they should pay a big price for this,” Trump wrote.
The president’s frustration was partly due to a “60 Minutes” segment featuring an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. During the interview, correspondent Scott Pelley noted that Trump had promised to end the war in Ukraine “immediately” and before taking office, a promise that has not been fulfilled. Pelley also questioned Zelenskyy about Trump’s controversial claim that Ukraine, not Russia, had initiated the conflict.
Zelenskyy responded to Trump’s claims by stating, “I believe, sadly, Russian narratives are prevailing in the U.S.”
Trump has previously questioned Zelenskyy’s competence and suggested Ukraine bears responsibility for starting the war against Russia, despite the overwhelming international consensus that Russia launched an unprovoked invasion in February 2022. In earlier statements, Trump blamed the conflict on three individuals: Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Joe Biden, and Zelenskyy, “in that order.”
Trump’s complaints about “60 Minutes” also extended to a segment on Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory that the president has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring for the United States. In a recent address to Congress, Trump declared that the U.S. would “get it one way or another,” a statement that has drawn sharp criticism from Greenlandic officials.
The “60 Minutes” broadcast featured Aqqaluk Lynge, an Inuit elder statesman, who described Trump’s congressional address as “ugly.” Lynge added, “We all noticed that in Greenland. All of us.”
Greenland’s leadership has firmly rejected Trump’s overtures. Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede previously stated that “Greenland is ours” and emphasized that the Greenlandic people do not wish to become part of the United States. According to Greenlandic government representatives, Trump’s acquisition claims demonstrate a “fundamental lack of respect” for the people of Greenland and their democratic institutions.
Trump’s criticism of CBS also references an ongoing legal battle over the network’s handling of a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign. Trump has filed a $20 billion lawsuit against CBS, claiming the network deceptively edited the interview to portray Harris in a favorable light.
The Federal Communications Commission has become involved in the dispute, with CBS being compelled to turn over the unedited transcript and camera feeds of the Harris interview as part of a parallel investigation. According to reports, CBS has resisted releasing transcripts to avoid establishing a precedent that would allow second-guessing of its editorial process, but the network is reportedly in settlement discussions with Trump’s legal team.
Press freedom advocates have expressed concern about the case, with many journalists at CBS describing Trump’s lawsuit as without merit. The dispute comes amid broader tensions between Trump and major news organizations. Since taking office in January, Trump has significantly escalated his criticism of mainstream media outlets, particularly those he perceives as unfavorable to his administration.
The president’s attacks on “60 Minutes” represent one of his most direct challenges to a specific news program since his inauguration. Trump’s suggestion that the network should lose its license raises questions about the limits of presidential influence over media regulation, as the FCC is designed to function as an independent agency.
FCC Chair Carr has previously opened investigations into several news networks over their coverage of the Trump administration, actions that have intensified debates about the agency’s role in regulating news content. Critics have characterized these investigations as unprecedented in the FCC’s history and potentially threatening to journalistic independence.