At a Glance
- The White House warned CBS News to air President Trump’s Jan. 13 interview unedited or face legal action.
- Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told CBS staff, “If it’s not out in full, we’ll sue your ass off.”
- CBS aired the 13-minute segment in its entirety the same evening it was recorded.
- Why it matters: The incident highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and major media outlets over editorial control.
The White House issued a blunt legal threat to CBS News just moments after President Trump completed a taped interview, demanding the network broadcast the full conversation without edits or face a lawsuit, according to a leaked audio recording reviewed by News Of Los Angeles.
The Warning
On Jan. 13, after Trump wrapped the interview with CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil in Michigan, Leavitt relayed the president’s message to the crew. In the recording obtained by The New York Times, she can be heard saying:
- “Make sure you guys don’t cut the tape. Make sure the interview is out in full.”
- “If it’s not out in full, we’ll sue your ass off.”
CBS Evening News executive producer Kim Harvey responded, “Oh, great, okay,” while Dokoupil reportedly added, “He always says that.”
CBS Responds
CBS News broadcast the full 13-minute interview that same evening, covering topics ranging from protests in Iran to the criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. A network spokesperson later told The New York Times and The Washington Post:
> “The moment we booked this interview we made the independent decision to air it unedited and in its entirety.”
Leavitt doubled down when contacted by the Times, stating, “The American people deserve to watch President Trump’s full interviews, unedited, no cuts. And guess what? The interview ran in full.”
History of Conflict
This latest clash is part of a broader pattern of hostility between Trump and CBS News. Key precedents include:
| Event | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Trump sued CBS over a 2024 60 Minutes segment with then-Vice President Kamala Harris | Network settled, paying $16 million toward Trump’s future presidential library |
| Trump initially sought $10 billion in damages | Settlement raised concerns about media companies setting precedents by yielding to presidential pressure |
In December, Trump again targeted CBS after the network aired an interview with former Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. On Truth Social he wrote:
> “THEY ARE NO BETTER THAN THE OLD OWNERSHIP, who just paid me millions of Dollars for FAKE REPORTING about your favorite President, ME!”
He added, “Since they bought it, 60 Minutes has actually gotten WORSE!”
Key Takeaways
- The White House’s legal threat came minutes after the interview ended, underscoring the administration’s intent to control media narratives.
- CBS maintains it never planned to edit the segment, airing it in full despite the warning.
- The episode is the latest in Trump’s long-running feud with CBS and its parent company, Paramount.
