Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate notorious for stirring controversy, has once again made headlines after canceling a scheduled interview with 60 Minutes and calling for CBS to lose its broadcast license. In a fiery outburst on Truth Social, Trump lashed out at the network, accusing it of manipulating an interview with his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, and labeling it the “Greatest Fraud in Broadcast History.”
Trump’s ire stems from a recent 60 Minutes episode in which Harris’s interview with correspondent Bill Whitaker was edited for time—a standard practice for televised programs. However, Trump claimed that the network “replaced” Harris’s real answers with more favorable responses in order to “save her” from appearing “crazy or dumb.” His accusations, though unfounded, have ignited a political firestorm.
In a Truth Social post, Trump raged, “Her REAL ANSWER WAS CRAZY, OR DUMB, so they actually REPLACED it with another answer in order to make her look better.” Taking his frustration a step further, he called for CBS to lose its broadcast license, saying it should be auctioned off to “the Highest Bidder.”
Trump continued his tirade during a rally in Detroit, declaring the Harris interview “the single biggest scandal in broadcast history.” He also accused the network of engaging in political bias against him, justifying his refusal to participate in the 60 Minutes interview. According to CBS, Trump backed out of the interview earlier this week after learning that he would be fact-checked, a common practice for all guests on the program.
The most controversial part of Trump’s rant was his call to revoke CBS’s broadcast license—an act that, as many have pointed out, is not within the realm of possibility for television networks like CBS, which do not operate under individual licenses. In response, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel issued a statement, rebuking Trump’s attacks as “threats against free speech.”
“The First Amendment is a cornerstone of our democracy,” Rosenworcel said. “The FCC does not and will not revoke licenses for broadcast stations simply because a political candidate disagrees with or dislikes content or coverage.”
Trump’s complaints follow his refusal to engage in another debate with Harris after she bested him in a September showdown. With Election Day looming, CBS noted that the interview Trump canceled “may have been the last opportunity for a national audience to hear from both candidates on a range of issues.”
While Harris continues to make appearances on major platforms like The View, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and radio host Howard Stern, Trump has focused on attacking these outlets. In Pennsylvania this week, he unleashed a series of tirades, lashing out at Stern and The View’s Whoopi Goldberg for hosting Harris.
As the political temperature rises, Trump’s repeated calls for CBS’s license to be revoked have left many questioning his understanding of the law—and what this latest temper tantrum could mean for his campaign strategy moving forward. With tensions high, this clash between Trump and the media may only intensify in the weeks to come.