Former President Donald Trump is calling for CBS to lose its broadcast license following recent segments on “60 Minutes” that he says portrayed him unfairly.
In a Truth Social post published Sunday night, Trump accused CBS of defaming him with back-to-back stories on Ukraine and Greenland that aired during the popular news magazine’s latest broadcast.
“Almost every week, 60 Minutes mentions the name ‘TRUMP’ in a derogatory and defamatory way, but this weekend’s broadcast tops them all,” Trump wrote.
He continued by criticizing the network for airing two separate stories involving him, one focusing on the war in Ukraine and the other on Greenland.
“They did not one, but TWO major stories on ‘TRUMP,’ one having to do with Ukraine—which I say is a war that never would’ve happened if the 2020 Election hadn’t been rigged—and another on Greenland that misrepresents our country and my leadership in a false and fraudulent manner,” Trump claimed.
Lawsuit Against CBS News
This isn’t the first time Trump has clashed with CBS. In October, he filed a lawsuit against the network over a 60 Minutes interview with then-campaign opponent Vice President Kamala Harris, which aired shortly before the 2024 election. Trump alleged that CBS deceptively edited the interview to cast Harris in a more favorable light.
CBS’s parent company, Paramount Global, responded by defending the integrity of the report, calling the lawsuit “an affront to the First Amendment and without merit.” The company argued that Trump was attempting to penalize the network for exercising constitutionally protected editorial discretion.
According to The New York Times, both parties are expected to enter mediation talks in an attempt to resolve the $20 billion lawsuit.
Response to ’60 Minutes’ Segments
While it’s unclear which specific parts of the segments triggered Trump’s latest remarks, both featured quotes from foreign leaders that were critical of him.
Ukrainian President Zelensky Responds
In the Ukraine-focused segment, President Volodymyr Zelensky was interviewed by correspondent Scott Pelley. Zelensky encouraged Trump to visit Ukraine in person, saying:
“We want you to come. You think you understand what’s going on here. But please, before any kind of decisions or negotiations, come see the people, the civilians, the hospitals, churches, and the children who have been destroyed or killed.”
Zelensky also noted that “Russian narratives are prevailing in the U.S.,” a remark that many saw as a direct comment on Trump’s past rhetoric.
Greenland Segment Draws Fire
The second segment examined Trump’s past interest in purchasing Greenland during his presidency. It included comments from Aqqaluk Lynge, a respected Inuit elder, who described Trump’s language as dismissive.
“When he mentioned Greenland like it was a toy… we all noticed that. And it was ugly,” Lynge told correspondent Jon Wertheim.
Trump Urges FCC to Take Action
In his Truth Social post, Trump called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take action against CBS.
“They should lose their license! Hopefully, the FCC, as headed by its highly respected Chairman Brendan Carr, will impose the maximum fines and punishment for their unlawful and illegal behavior,” Trump wrote. “CBS is out of control and should pay a big price. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
As of now, the FCC has not issued a public statement in response to Trump’s comments. CBS News has also not commented on the former president’s latest criticisms.
