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Donald Trump has once again expressed his discontent with 60 Minutes, this time taking issue with two segments covering Ukraine and Greenland.
The former president’s critical stance toward media outlets, particularly 60 Minutes, is not a novel development; however, this time he has attempted to exert influence over independent regulatory bodies that oversee media operations.
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In a post shared on Truth Social, Trump urged the network to give up its broadcasting license and called for Brendan Carr, the head of the FCC, to enforce strict penalties for what he termed “unlawful and illegal behavior.”
The segments in question are standard fare for the long-running newsmagazine, including an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. During this segment, host Scott Pelley highlighted Trump’s historically inaccurate claim that the conflict was initiated by Ukraine, featuring a clip where Trump referred to Zelensky as a “dictator.”
Zelensky made an impassioned plea, stating, “I believe, sadly, Russian narratives are prevailing in the U.S.,” lamenting the widespread misunderstanding of the situation in Ukraine and the aggressive actions of Russia.
He extended an invitation to Trump to visit Ukraine to witness the impacts of the conflict firsthand.
The other segment focused on Greenland, where Jon Wertheim interviewed locals who voiced strong resistance to the idea of U.S. annexation. Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen firmly stated, “Greenland is for Greenlanders, not for anybody else.”
Trump’s recent rhetoric coincides with reports indicating that a mediator has been appointed to help resolve his $20 billion lawsuit against CBS, centering on claims about the editing of an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump alleges that the edits were designed to unfairly enhance Harris’s public image, a claim CBS disputes.
The lawsuit, filed in a Texas federal court, accuses CBS of violating the Texas Deceptive Practices Act; however, many legal experts regard the lawsuit as lacking merit. Trump asserts that his media company, which operates Truth Social, suffered damages because the 60 Minutes segment detracted from his platform’s visibility.
Additionally, Paramount Global, CBS’s parent company, is in the process of seeking regulatory approval for its merger with Skydance, and there are speculations that Trump’s legal actions might be influenced by the desire to ensure a favorable reception from the administration during this process.
In the midst of these developments, Carr initiated an inquiry into the 60 Minutes segment featuring Harris after a complaint suggested a violation of the FCC’s “news distortion” policy. Nevertheless, the FCC’s scope is limited, and the agency clarified that it lacks the authority to engage in censorship or to infringe upon the First Amendment rights of the press.
CBS has submitted the unedited transcript of the Harris interview to the FCC, asserting that it demonstrates the accuracy and integrity of their broadcast. In a statement, 60 Minutes emphasized that their editing process aims to provide clarity and informative content while adhering to the realities of broadcast limitations.
Trump’s recent remarks appear to exert additional pressure on Paramount as it navigates merger approvals and indicates an effort to sway Carr towards taking punitive actions against CBS. Trump’s approach seems to suggest that officials who diverge from the administration’s agenda may face repercussions, reminiscent of his prior actions leading to the dismissal of two Democratic commissioners at the FTC.
During his first term, Trump had also proposed that the FCC revoke NBC’s broadcasting license due to grievances with their coverage. However, the FCC chairman at that time, Ajit Pai, affirmed the agency’s commitment to the First Amendment, noting that revoking a broadcast license based on content is beyond their legal authority.
60 Minutes, in contrast, has maintained its tradition of rigorous journalism, consistently airing critical segments about the Trump administration since he took office.
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