Trump Doubles CBS Lawsuit to $20 Billion Over ‘60 Minutes’ Interview with Kamala Harris
President Donald Trump has escalated his legal battle against CBS, doubling his lawsuit damages to $20 billion and adding Paramount Global as a defendant. The lawsuit, initially filed in October 2024, claims news distortion, election interference, and financial harm related to CBS’s editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Trump’s Allegations Against CBS
In an amended complaint filed on February 7 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Trump’s legal team argues that CBS:
Edited Harris’s responses to make her appear more articulate.
Misrepresented her full statements by airing different portions on Face the Nation and 60 Minutes.
Diverted viewership from Trump’s media platform, Truth Social, reducing ad revenue.
Engaged in election interference, aiming to benefit Harris politically.
“It is beyond dispute that Defendants wanted Harris to win the Election,” the complaint reads. “Their primary motivation was commercial and pecuniary gain.”
The lawsuit accuses CBS of “gross broadcast distortion cover-up“, claiming the full, unedited interview—released later—revealed intentional manipulation of Harris’s remarks on Israel and the war in Gaza.
CBS Denies Allegations
CBS dismissed the lawsuit, calling the editing standard journalistic practice:
“The 60 Minutes broadcast was not doctored or deceitful,” CBS stated.
“We edited the interview to ensure Harris’s full answers were fairly represented.”
CBS also defended the decision to air a shorter portion of Harris’s answer on 60 Minutes, while a longer segment appeared on Face the Nation.
However, the full transcript showed that Harris’s statements were edited, combining two different responses into one polished answer. This led Trump to accuse CBS of election fraud and call for the network to lose its broadcasting license.
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Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Reopens Investigation
Coinciding with Trump’s lawsuit, the FCC has reopened an investigation into CBS for news distortion—a complaint initially dismissed in January but revived by new FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.
“CBS played the same question on two different programs, but the answers were different,” Carr stated in a Fox News interview.
“Was this for clarity and length—or something else?”
However, Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez criticized the move as politically motivated and an attempt to intimidate the media.
Legal and Political Ramifications
Trump’s legal team is now citing the Lanham Act, which covers false advertising and unfair competition, to justify the additional $10 billion in damages. They claim CBS’s manipulated coverage harmed Trump’s business interests, including Truth Social and TMTG.
The lawsuit also includes Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) as a plaintiff, arguing that he was misled as a consumer of broadcast news.
What’s Next?
CBS and Paramount have not yet responded to the amended complaint.
The lawsuit could set a major legal precedent regarding news editing and election coverage.
The FCC’s investigation may impact CBS’s broadcasting rights and future election coverage standards.
As the 2024 election approaches, this case could fuel further debate on media bias, free speech, and election integrity.
Stay tuned for updates as the legal battle unfolds.
