The White House press secretary issued a stark legal warning to a major US television network over its handling of a recent exclusive interview with President Donald Trump, according to an audio recording obtained by the New York Times.
A Blunt Warning from the Press Room
Following an interview between CBS anchor Tony Dokoupil and President Trump, press secretary Karoline Leavitt was recorded delivering a pointed message to the network. She relayed the President's directive that the segment must be broadcast in its entirety without any cuts. "He said, 'Make sure you guys don't cut the tape, make sure the interview is out in full,'" Leavitt told Dokoupil.
When the anchor assured her they were planning to do so, Leavitt's response was unequivocal. She stated, "He said, 'If it’s not out in full, we’ll sue your ass off.'" The audio also captured a woman's voice replying, "Oh great, OK," to the press secretary's threat. The 13-minute interview aired unedited on Tuesday, as confirmed by CBS.
A Network Under the Microscope
This tense exchange occurred against a backdrop of significant controversy surrounding CBS News's editorial leadership. The network's editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, has faced intense public scrutiny since assuming the role in October, with frequent accusations of favouritism towards the Trump administration.
Weiss's tenure has been marked by internal chaos and contentious editorial decisions. Notably, she pulled a scheduled 60 Minutes segment on Venezuelan deportees in December, citing a lack of response from the administration. Furthermore, the network's corporate landscape has shifted. CBS is now controlled by Paramount Skydance, founded by David Ellison, whose father, Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison, is a known friend of Trump.
In a significant parallel, Paramount agreed to a $16 million settlement with Trump in July over its editing of a separate 60 Minutes interview with his 2024 election rival, Kamala Harris. Trump had sued, alleging the edits were meant to mislead the public.
Interview Content and Aftermath
In the interview that sparked the legal threat, President Trump covered a range of topics. He warned that the US would take "very strong action" if Iran executed protesters, criticised Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell as "lousy," and defended an ICE agent involved in a fatal shooting in Minneapolis on 7 January.
CBS maintained that airing the interview in full was always their intention. "The moment we booked this interview, we made the independent decision to air it unedited and in its entirety," the company stated. When contacted for comment, Leavitt said, "The American people deserve to watch President Trump’s full interviews, unedited, no cuts," adding, "And guess what? The interview ran in full."
