Trump to sue CBS? All on White House's threat over Tony Dokoupil ‘Evening News’ interview

Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary, stated President Donald Trump would sue CBS News if his interview was not fully aired.

Updated on: Jan 18, 2026, 22:16:59 IST

By Shweta Kukreti

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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.

President Donald Trump threatened legal action against CBS News if his interview is not fully aired, according to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. CBS (AP)

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

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.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shweta Kukreti
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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