Former President Donald Trump launched a fierce critique of “60 Minutes” shortly after the CBS newsmagazine aired segments on Ukraine and Greenland on Sunday, claiming the network was out of control and should “face significant consequences” for its coverage of him.
“Nearly every week, 60 Minutes … refers to ‘TRUMP’ in a derogatory and defamatory manner, but this weekend’s broadcast is the worst yet,” the former president stated on his Truth Social platform. He urged Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr to impose the harshest fines and penalties “for their unlawful and improper conduct.”
The network did not provide an immediate response.
Trump is currently pursuing a $20 billion lawsuit against “60 Minutes” related to how an interview with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris was edited last fall. The former president contends that the editing made Harris appear more favorable, a claim the newscast disputes. However, there are reports that Trump’s legal team and CBS’s parent company are discussing a potential settlement.
Carr and the FCC have initiated a simultaneous investigation into CBS News regarding this matter, which is part of a broader inquiry encompassing several networks, including ABC News, NBC, PBS, NPR, and the Walt Disney Co.
Despite the ongoing litigation, “60 Minutes” has been relentless in its coverage of Trump’s administration since his second term began, particularly through correspondent Scott Pelley. Pelley recently traveled to Ukraine to interview President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the site of a Russian attack that resulted in the deaths of nine children earlier this month.
During the Sunday broadcast, Zelenskyy expressed his “100%” animosity towards Russian President Vladimir Putin over the invasion of Ukraine, inviting Trump to visit his country to witness the devastation firsthand.
Additionally, correspondent Jon Wertheim reported from Greenland about the sentiments of some residents regarding Trump’s desire to acquire the territory.
In his social media post, Trump claimed that “60 Minutes” is no longer a legitimate news organization but rather “a fraudulent Political Operative masquerading as ‘News,’ and must be held accountable for their actions, past and present.”
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David Bauder covers media for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social.
