Former President Donald Trump has filed a high-stakes $10 billion lawsuit against CBS News, claiming that the network’s recent 60 Minutes interview with Vice President Kamala Harris was deceptively edited to make her look favorable. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, accuses CBS of engaging in “partisan and unlawful acts of election and voter interference through malicious, deceptive, and substantial news distortion.”
In the lawsuit, Trump and his legal team argue that CBS crossed ethical lines in their portrayal of Harris, alleging that the network altered the interview to minimize what he calls her “word salad” responses and boost her public image. The former president claims CBS used selective editing tactics that, in his words, went “from the exercise of judgment in reporting to deceitful, deceptive manipulation of news.”
Trump and his allies have publicly criticized CBS for weeks, pointing specifically to an exchange about the Israel-Gaza conflict that was edited out of the broadcast version. That portion of the interview, which Trump claims paints Harris in a less favorable light, was only available online and did not make it to the main 60 Minutes segment that aired nationwide. Critics from Trump’s camp argue that this editorial choice served to protect Harris from potential backlash on sensitive foreign policy issues, accusing CBS of bias and political interference.
CBS, however, stands by the 60 Minutes interview, explaining that it is standard practice to edit interviews with high-profile figures for clarity, accuracy, and time constraints. The network has not issued a detailed response to the lawsuit but has previously defended its editorial choices as being fair and in line with industry standards. CBS also noted that Trump himself had been invited to participate in a similar 60 Minutes interview. However, he declined after learning that the network planned to fact-check his responses, which reportedly led to his decision to back out.
Trump initially hinted at legal action against CBS earlier this month, suggesting that the network “should lose their license and take 60 Minutes off the air” due to what he describes as repeated bias and unfair treatment. This isn’t the first time Trump has lashed out at mainstream media networks. Throughout his presidency and beyond, he has frequently criticized outlets he believes are unfairly critical of him, often threatening lawsuits or federal scrutiny.
The $10 billion lawsuit is one of Trump’s most aggressive actions against a media network and signals a renewed effort to challenge media organizations he believes undermine him and his political allies.
