CBS News has responded to allegations of deceptive editing in a recent “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, which were leveled by former President Donald Trump.
The network refutes these claims, stating the edits were made to make Harris’ response “more succinct,” while ensuring it remained accurate and clear.
The dispute began after Harris’ interview was aired earlier this month, during which two separate versions of her response to the same question were broadcast on two different CBS programs.
Trump and his supporters pointed to this discrepancy as evidence of the network skewing the interview to make the Democratic nominee seem more proficient.
In a statement issued on Sunday evening, CBS News said: “Former President Donald Trump is accusing ’60 Minutes’ of deceitful editing of our Oct. 7, 2024 interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. That is false.”
The network clarified that “Face the Nation” aired a longer excerpt of Harris’ response, while “60 Minutes” broadcast a more condensed version. CBS News stressed that both segments consisted of the “Same question. Same answer,” but highlighted different parts of the response.
Defending its editing decisions, CBS News said, “When we edit any interview, whether a politician, an athlete, or movie star, we strive to be clear, accurate, and on point. The portion of her answer on “60 Minutes” was more succinct, which allows time for other subjects in a wide-ranging 21-minute-long segment.”
The interview focused on the current conflict in the Middle East, with questions directed at Harris about U.S. relations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A nearly two-and-a-half-minute preview of Harris’ interview was first shown on “Face the Nation” on October 6, but her response was shortened to a single sentence in the “60 Minutes” episode aired the next day.
Trump, who had previously refused to participate in the “60 Minutes” pre-election special, used social media to criticize Harris and the network. He asserted that Harris gave a “horrible, incompetent answer” and accused CBS News of substituting it with “a much shorter answer that you had to do with a totally different subject, which also didn’t make sense, but it wasn’t as incompetent.”
The former President has hinted at legal proceedings, suggesting he plans to subpoena their records to examine the extent of the purported editing. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump’s campaign, interpreted CBS News’ statement as an admission rather than a denial of their alleged actions.
CBS News, responding to the escalating controversy, has reiterated its standing invitation for Trump to appear on “60 Minutes.” The network expressed its willingness to host him for a discussion on national issues as well as the Harris interview.
The scandal has gained further traction with the disclosure that CBS News chief executive Wendy McMahon donated over $6,000 to Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign and Democratic fundraising platforms while working at ABC. CBS News employees are not permitted to make political donations. McMahon did not have a direct role in editing the Harris interview.
As the debate over journalistic principles and editing methods persists, FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has commented on Trump’s demands to revoke CBS’s broadcasting license. Rosenworcel noted that while repeated attacks on broadcast stations by the former President may have become customary, these threats to free speech are grave and should not be disregarded. She stressed that the FCC does not rescind licenses due to political content or coverage disagreements.
The incident has reignited debates surrounding media bias, editorial choices, and the responsibilities of news organizations in covering politics.
