President Donald Trump targeted CBS News with fierce criticism on Sunday night via his Truth Social platform, following segments on "60 Minutes" that covered Ukraine and Greenland. Trump's posts suggested the network should face serious consequences, including the loss of their license, for what he deemed biased reporting.
The president's reaction came in response to an interview on "60 Minutes" where Scott Pelley spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the location of a recent Russian attack that resulted in the deaths of nine children. During the interview, Zelensky expressed his disdain for Russian President Vladimir Putin and invited Trump to observe the effects of the war in Ukraine. Trump, reflecting on the segment, claimed that such a conflict would not have occurred under his presidency, blaming the situation on a "RIGGED" 2020 Election.
Additionally, Trump took issue with another "60 Minutes" segment by Jon Wertheim, which reported on Greenland's local reactions to Trump's proposal for the United States to annex the island. The residents interviewed expressed their opposition to the idea, emphasizing Greenland's unwillingness to be sold or integrated into the U.S.
The former president's interest in Greenland had been in the news recently after the New York Times revealed that the White House was considering a formal plan to acquire the Arctic territory from Denmark. Proposed strategies included offering an annual payment to Greenland residents as a substitute for Denmark's subsidies. However, Denmark has remained firm that Greenland is not for sale.
Trump's posts on Truth Social also brought up his $20 billion lawsuit against "60 Minutes," accusing them of editing an interview with then-Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris to make her appear more coherent. He claims the edits were part of a larger effort to illegally influence the election in favor of Harris.
The president's legal team is reportedly in settlement talks with CBS's parent company over the lawsuit. In his social media statement, Trump called on the Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr to enforce "maximum fines and punishment" for what he labels as "unlawful and illegal behavior."
This confrontation is the latest in a series of disputes between the Trump administration and mainstream media outlets, which Trump has consistently accused of providing unfair coverage.
