In a striking assertion during his conversation with CBS Evening News, Donald Trump suggested that anchor Tony Dokoupil wouldn't be employed if Kamala Harris, his competitor in the upcoming 2024 presidential election, had emerged victorious.
"Not too long ago, our nation was in a state of despair," Trump stated, emphasizing his viewpoint on the country's condition. "We were essentially a lifeless entity. If she had taken office, you likely wouldn’t be sitting in this position right now… it’s almost certain that whatever they’re compensating you would not be happening."
It's noteworthy that CBS has recently come under the ownership of Larry Ellison's family, a well-known billionaire and an acquaintance of Trump. This shift occurred following the acquisition of Paramount Global, which serves as CBS's parent company, last year.
David Ellison, who is the son of Larry and currently the CEO of Paramount Skydance, made headlines by recruiting Bari Weiss, a writer known for her unconventional views, to revitalize CBS News. One of Weiss's initial significant decisions was to appoint the 45-year-old Dokoupil as the anchor for the Evening News, thereby establishing him as a prominent figure within the network. The success or failure of his tenure as anchor on what has been deemed a struggling show will undoubtedly influence perceptions of Weiss's leadership.
Originally slated to begin anchoring the evening news program on January 5, Dokoupil instead took to the airwaves two days earlier due to the U.S. military's operations in Venezuela.
During the interview, Trump was a key guest for Dokoupil, who faced criticism for how he managed discussions with several individuals from Trump's administration. This included an interview with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on January 4, followed by a meeting with border "czar" Tom Homan on January 7.
Moreover, Trump shared insights about David Ellison, who is currently pursuing the expansion of his media ventures with a controversial bid to acquire Warner Bros Discovery, the conglomerate behind notable entities like CNN and HBO.
Ellison's rapport with the Trump administration has been characterized as positive, with some White House officials reportedly favoring him and his father over Netflix, which has established a deal with Warner Bros Discovery to procure numerous valuable assets.
Trump mused that had he lost the election, "your boss, an incredible individual, might be facing financial ruin," referring to Dokoupil's employer.
As the interview concluded at a Ford facility in Dearborn, Michigan, Dokoupil gently countered Trump’s claims regarding his job security. "Just to clarify, I genuinely believe I'd still hold this position even if the other party had won," he asserted. Trump quickly replied, "Sure, but possibly at a lower salary."
Sources familiar with the segment indicated that Trump labeled Dokoupil a "wise guy" after this exchange, although that remark did not make it to the broadcast.
Editing interviews is standard practice for television news outlets, but CBS News has faced scrutiny over its editing choices in the past. This includes the controversial editing of a 60 Minutes interview with then-Vice President Harris in October 2024, which resulted in a significant lawsuit from Trump. Ultimately, CBS settled for $16 million, despite legal experts deeming the lawsuit largely baseless and unlikely to succeed under First Amendment protections, just prior to the Ellisons receiving regulatory approval for their acquisition of Paramount.
Additionally, a subsequent 60 Minutes interview featuring Trump, conducted by correspondent Norah O’Donnell, was also edited down, though she received substantially more interview time than Dokoupil did during Trump's recent appearance.
In the lead-up to the Golden Globes broadcast on CBS, host Nikki Glaser playfully poked fun at the network by stating that "the award for most editing goes to … CBS News."
Trump's visit to Detroit coincided perfectly with CBS Evening News's plans to air from the city, as part of a nationwide tour aimed at rebranding the show and showcasing its new host.
At the conclusion of the broadcast, Dokoupil seemed to acknowledge the criticisms directed at the show since its relaunch, stating, "While you might not agree with everything presented on this program, we trust you to listen and make your own informed decisions."
But here's where it gets controversial: Do you think Trump's comments reflect an underlying tension between media and politics? And how do you feel about the impact of ownership changes on news coverage? Let us know your thoughts!
