President Donald Trump waves from the stairs of Air Force One upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Monday, March 17, 2025 via AP Newssource.
CBS’s "60 Minutes" is under intense scrutiny as it continues to deliver hard-hitting reports on the Trump administration, all while its parent company, Paramount Global, considers settling a $20 billion lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump.
Investigative Reports Amid Legal Battles
Since Trump took office, "60 Minutes" has aired investigative stories critical of his administration. The most recent report, aired on Sunday, highlighted how Trump’s executive order on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) led to the cancellation of a concert featuring talented non-white student musicians who were set to perform with the U.S. Marine Corps Band.
CBS stepped in to support the students, arranging a separate performance for them. Correspondent Scott Pelley called it the “concert that was not meant to be heard.” Originally, only a few hundred people would have attended, but thanks to CBS, their performance reached millions of viewers.
Pelley has played a major role in six out of seven reports aired since Trump’s inauguration, covering topics like Ukraine, government watchdog firings, tariffs, and changes at the Justice Department. His reporting has led to both praise and backlash, making him one of the most polarizing figures in media today.
Trump’s Lawsuit and FCC Investigation
Trump’s lawsuit claims that "60 Minutes" engaged in election interference by allegedly manipulating an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. The controversy arose when two separate CBS programs, "Face the Nation" and "60 Minutes," aired different edited segments of Harris’s response about Israel. CBS defended its editing, stating both soundbites came from the same response.
Meanwhile, Paramount Global has filed motions to dismiss the lawsuit and an ongoing Federal Communications Commission (FCC) probe. However, Shari Redstone, head of Paramount, is reportedly considering a settlement—similar to Disney’s $16 million payout to resolve a previous Trump lawsuit against ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos.
A settlement could help smooth Paramount’s proposed merger with Skydance Media, which requires approval from the Trump administration. However, many CBS journalists oppose settling, arguing that "60 Minutes" did nothing wrong.
‘60 Minutes’ Faces Political Backlash
The investigative reports have sparked strong reactions, with conservative media accusing the show of bias. Brent Baker, editor of the right-wing watchdog NewsBusters, recently criticized Pelley’s coverage, calling it an attempt to discredit Trump’s policies.
Meanwhile, tech billionaire Elon Musk has also weighed in. Following a Feb. 16 segment on the closure of USAID, Pelley reported that Musk had cut off assistance to impoverished communities, despite receiving billions in taxpayer dollars for his SpaceX projects.
Musk responded on X (formerly Twitter) with a fiery post:
"‘60 Minutes’ are the biggest liars in the world! They deserve a long prison sentence."
Despite the backlash, CBS remains committed to investigative journalism.
Journalists Stand Their Ground
Veteran news producer Tom Bettag believes "60 Minutes" is standing firm in the face of intimidation.
"This lawsuit may be an attempt to silence them, but they are making it clear that they won’t back down," Bettag said.
CBS News executive producer Bill Owens assured his staff that the network would not apologize as part of any settlement. Correspondent Lesley Stahl echoed this sentiment while accepting a First Amendment award, calling "60 Minutes" “a fight for our very existence.”
Urgent Reporting in a Critical Time
"60 Minutes" has taken an unusually aggressive approach in its recent coverage. Unlike its typical long-form investigations, some of its stories have been produced in just days—including a March 2 report on Ukraine, which aired right after a White House confrontation between Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
One of Pelley’s most controversial pieces, "Firing the Watchdogs," exposed Trump’s mass removal of government watchdogs. In the report, Pelley directly countered Trump’s claim that such firings were “standard practice.”
"He’s wrong," Pelley stated bluntly.
His reporting has also covered the Justice Department’s resistance to dropping corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams, despite Trump’s push to clear allies of legal troubles.
The Future of ‘60 Minutes’
While CBS leadership weighs legal and corporate risks, "60 Minutes" journalists are determined to continue their reporting. Journalism experts believe that settling the lawsuit could undermine press freedom.
"The lawsuit pales in comparison to the sweeping changes Trump is trying to implement," said Bettag. "This is a moment that demands top-tier investigative work."
With tensions high, "60 Minutes" is not backing down. Whether Trump’s lawsuit proceeds, settles, or gets dismissed, one thing is clear—the legendary newsmagazine is prepared to fight for its legacy.
