White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt informed CBS News that President Donald Trump would take legal action against the media outlet if his Tuesday 13-minute interview was not aired in full, reported The New York Times reported.
Tony Dokoupil of CBS News conducted an interview with Trump on Tuesday for the “CBS Evening News.” Once the interview was completed, Leavitt conveyed a message from the President to Dokoupil and his team, according to the report.
“He said, ‘Make sure you guys don’t cut the tape, make sure the interview is out in full,'” Leavitt stated as per the Times. Dokoupil responded, “Yeah, we’re doing it, yeah.”
“He said, ‘If it’s not out in full, we’ll sue your a– off,'” the Press Secretary added, per the Times.
Dokoupil commented, “He always says that,” based on an audio recording of the conversation that was examined by The Washington Post.
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CBS broadcasts complete segment after White House warning
{{/usCountry}}Also Read: Did Renee Good's partner impede ICE agent before Minneapolis shooting? Stunning details emerge
CBS broadcasts complete segment after White House warning
{{/usCountry}}CBS News broadcast the complete segment. In a statement acquired by the Times, CBS News stated that it “made the independent decision to air it unedited and in its entirety.”
Trump's legal action against CBS
Trump took legal action against CBS, which was resolved by its parent company, Paramount Global, with a payout of $16 million, concerning the editing of a 60 Minutes interview featuring 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
His lawsuit against CBS alleged “deceptive doctoring” in Harris' 60 Minutes interview. Prior to the settlement, legal analysts anticipated that the case would be dismissed based on industry standards related to interview editing. Sources informed The Hollywood Reporter that Paramount was concerned the lawsuit could hinder Skydance's acquisition of the company, which required regulatory approval, including the transfer of FCC licenses. The merger ultimately received approval in August 2025.
Additionally, the network faced recent criticism for canceling a planned 60 Minutes segment in December that focused on the “brutal and tortuous conditions” at an El Salvador prison where the Trump administration had deported individuals suspected of being illegal immigrants. CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, appointed to the position by new Paramount CEO David Ellison, defended the choice, asserting that the story “was not ready.”