Trump Demands CBS be ‘Terminated’ Over Alleged Bias

Former President Donald Trump has escalated his war on the media, calling for CBS and its flagship program 60 Minutes to be “immediately terminated.” His demand, posted on Truth Social, accused the network of election interference and linked it to an unfounded conspiracy theory about government kickbacks to the press.

Trump’s outburst follows conservative speculation that 60 Minutes deceptively edited an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 election. He alleged CBS altered her responses to make her appear more competent. “CBS and 60 Minutes defrauded the public by replacing Kamala’s horrible answers with far better ones,” Trump wrote.

CBS released full transcripts Wednesday, contradicting Trump’s claim. The network stated that routine edits were made for time and clarity, not to misrepresent Harris’s words. Media experts weighed in, calling Trump’s accusations “dangerous.”

Linking CBS to a Viral Conspiracy

Trump took his attacks further, attempting to connect CBS to a right-wing conspiracy that falsely claimed major media outlets, including Politico and the Associated Press, had received millions from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

“Was CBS paid for committing this FRAUD???” Trump wrote, implying government funds were funneled to news organizations to manipulate coverage in favor of Democrats. He cited a misleading social media post by conservative commentator Kyle Becker, who claimed Politico had received $8 million from USAID.

Fact-checkers debunked the claim, confirming that Politico’s reported earnings came from standard subscription sales to government agencies—not from USAID grants. Politico responded in a memo: “Not one cent, ever, in 18 years.”

Despite the evidence, Trump persisted. “This could be the biggest scandal of them all, perhaps the biggest in history!” he declared.

Political Fallout

Trump’s rhetoric is fueling renewed concerns about press freedom. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested that the administration may move to cut government subscriptions to Politico, stating, “We are reviewing those payments now.”

Meanwhile, media watchdogs warn that Trump’s baseless attacks could set the stage for real consequences if he regains power. “He’s laying the groundwork to silence critical coverage,” said media analyst James Farrell.

As Trump ramps up his campaign, his war against the press remains a central theme. Whether his claims hold weight or not, they continue to dominate conservative media and rally his base—signaling that his fight with the press is far from over.