Wendy McMahon stepped down as president and CEO of CBS News and Stations on Monday, May 19, 2025, amid mounting tensions over the network’s handling of President Donald Trump’s $20 billion lawsuit against “60 Minutes” and the parent company’s pending merger with Skydance Media.
McMahon indicated in a memo to staff that “the company and I do not agree on the path forward.” The departure came after Paramount Global co-CEO George Cheeks asked for her resignation during a Saturday meeting, according to people familiar with the matter.
The resignation marks the second high-profile departure from CBS News within the past month. Bill Owens, the longtime executive producer of “60 Minutes,” resigned in April citing increased corporate interference in the program’s editorial decisions. Owens stated that it had become clear he would not be allowed to run the show as he had always operated it.
McMahon’s exit occurs as Paramount Global seeks to complete its $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, which requires federal approval. The Trump lawsuit alleges that “60 Minutes” deceptively edited an October interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris to benefit her presidential campaign. Legal experts have called the suit baseless, but the case has created obstacles for the merger approval process.
The Federal Communications Commission is reviewing the Skydance-Paramount merger while also investigating a complaint about the Harris interview filed by a conservative group. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has publicly urged media companies to curb diversity, equity and inclusion programs, adding another layer of regulatory pressure on the merger.
Internal tensions at CBS News have escalated in recent weeks, with Paramount’s board increasing pressure on executives to provide specific details about “60 Minutes” programming ahead of air dates. This represented a significant departure from the show’s traditional editorial independence. McMahon reportedly fought to keep “60 Minutes” on the air despite board preferences that certain stories not run.
McMahon had been a defender of the news division and “60 Minutes” amid corporate pressures and Trump’s attacks. She firmly opposed settling the Trump lawsuit, believing CBS News should not capitulate to what many First Amendment experts consider a baseless legal challenge. Sources familiar with the matter indicated that controlling shareholder Shari Redstone supported McMahon’s removal.
The tensions between McMahon and company leadership extended beyond the Trump lawsuit. Redstone criticized McMahon over CBS News coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and publicly contradicted her after “CBS Mornings” co-host Tony Dokoupil was reprimanded for his interview approach with author Ta-Nehisi Coates regarding his book about Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
McMahon’s tenure also faced challenges with programming changes that resulted in declining ratings. The “CBS Evening News” switched to dual anchors John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois after Norah O’Donnell stepped down, but the program has seen audience drops and remains in third place among network evening newscasts, falling below an average of four million viewers.
CBS News has continued producing hard-hitting segments on the Trump administration despite the lawsuit and threats. A recent “60 Minutes” story examined Trump’s targeting of law firms and featured attorney Marc Elias, who described the White House’s actions as similar to how a mob boss intimidates people. The newsmagazine aired its final episode of the season on Sunday and will not return with new episodes until September.
McMahon joined CBS in May 2021 as president and co-head of CBS News and Stations alongside Neeraj Khemlani. She became sole leader of the divisions in August 2023 after Khemlani’s departure. Previously, she led the ABC Owned and Operated Stations group at Walt Disney Company.
George Cheeks announced an interim reporting structure with CBS News president Tom Cibrowski and CBS Stations president Jennifer Mitchell reporting directly to him. McMahon will remain with the organization for several weeks to support the transition. Her departure may signal that settlement discussions with Trump’s legal team are progressing, as mediation between the parties has begun.