CBS News President Resigns Amid Trump Lawsuit and Growing Media Scandal
CBS News President and CEO Wendy McMahon has abruptly resigned as the network faces mounting legal and political pressure, including a massive $20 billion lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump over an allegedly doctored interview aired during the 2024 campaign.
McMahon’s resignation comes at a pivotal moment, as CBS struggles to contain the fallout from the controversial “60 Minutes” segment featuring then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump’s lawsuit accuses CBS of deceptively editing Harris’s interview in a way that misled the public and amounted to election interference—an allegation that, if proven, could have sweeping implications for media accountability during elections.
The lawsuit, filed under Texas law, claims that conflicting versions of Harris’s responses aired on “60 Minutes” and “Face the Nation,” potentially manipulating voter perception at a critical time. While some legal analysts initially dismissed the case, pressure has intensified behind the scenes. CBS’s parent company, Paramount Global, is reportedly exploring a settlement in order to smooth the path for its pending merger with Skydance Media—an approval process currently under federal review.
McMahon is not the first to step away from the growing controversy. “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens resigned in April, citing a breakdown in editorial independence and increasing interference from corporate leadership. Both Owens and McMahon were reportedly staunchly opposed to any settlement with Trump, warning it would set a dangerous precedent and compromise the integrity of the newsroom.
Further complicating matters, the Federal Communications Commission has launched a formal investigation into the Harris interview, focusing on whether CBS’s actions violated any broadcast standards. The probe threatens to delay or derail Paramount’s merger ambitions and casts a long shadow over the future of CBS News.
McMahon’s departure signals deep internal turmoil at CBS, with critics accusing the network of bowing to corporate interests while undermining its journalistic principles. As the Trump lawsuit moves forward and the FCC inquiry unfolds, the network faces a crossroads—caught between defending press freedom and protecting its corporate future.
This latest shake-up underscores a broader reckoning in the media industry, where political bias, editorial manipulation, and unchecked influence are no longer just talking points—they’re legal liabilities. And for CBS, the cost of playing politics with the truth may be higher than it ever imagined.