CBS Reveals Truth About ‘60 Minutes’ Harris Interview Trump Is Suing Over
CBS has released an unedited interview with Kamala Harris after Donald Trump and his followers melted down and claimed the network “doctored” its broadcasts to help the Democrat.
The then-vice president’s interview with 60 Minutes was broadcast in October but caused confusion when an excerpt from it was first shown on sister show Face the Nation and Harris appeared to give different answers to the same question about Israel.
Trump seized on it as evidence of his claim of widespread media bias and sued CBS, while last week his new Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr opened a formal investigation and demanded the broadcaster turn over the full tape.
On Wednesday, 60 Minutes released the entire video of the interview and a transcript, saying that it proved that what it had aired was not “doctored or deceitful.”
The network did not respond to an immediate request for comment.
The confrontation between Trump and the network started in October. First, Face the Nation showed a clip on Sunday, Oct. 6 showing Whitaker asking Harris about the U.S.’ relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “But it seems that Prime Minister Netanyahu is not listening,” he said.
“Well, Bill, the work that we have done has resulted in a number of movements in that region by Israel that were very much prompted by, or a result of many things, including our advocacy for what needs to happen in the region,” Harris said. “And we’re not going to stop doing that.”
But on the special edition of 60 Minutes the following day, Harris' answer was different: “We are not going to stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need for this war to end.”
The transcript revealed that Face the Nation broadcast the first portion of Harris’ answer while 60 Minutes aired the second part.
“But it seems that Prime Minister Netanyahu is not listening. The Wall Street Journal said that he -- that your administration has repeatedly been blindsided by Netanyahu, and in fact, he has rebuffed just about all of your administration’s entreaties,” Whitaker said in the unedited transcript.
“Well, Bill, the work that we have done has resulted in a number of movements in that region by Israel that were very much prompted by, or a result of many things, including our advocacy for what needs to happen in the region. And we’re not going to stop doing that. We are not going to stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need for this war to end,” Harris responded.
Trump eventually sued the network for $10 billion in Texas, claiming the network unfairly edited the segment to make Harris look better. The network denied that charge and tried to dismiss the lawsuit, and legal experts have called the case largely frivolous.
Still, FCC chairman Brendan Carr has tied a review of the broadcast to parent company Paramount Global’s planned merger to Skydance Media.
Paramount Global is reportedly trying to settle the lawsuit, a decision CBS News and Stations CEO Wendy McMahon and 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens reportedly oppose.
“They show – consistent with 60 Minutes' repeated assurances to the public – that the 60 Minutes broadcast was not doctored or deceitful,” the network said on Wednesday. “In reporting the news, journalists regularly edit interviews – for time, space or clarity. In making these edits, 60 Minutes is always guided by the truth and what we believe will be most informative to the viewing public – all while working within the constraints of broadcast television."
Carr said in a post on X the transcript and video have prompted the FCC to allow the public to weigh in on the matter.
“The FCC has concluded that establishing a docket and seeking comment on the issues raised in the complaint would serve the public interest,” he wrote. “The people will have a chance to weigh in.”