Long frustrated by perceived bias in the news media, former President Donald Trump called Thursday for the government to dramatically rebid the broadcast licenses of the major tv networks to create new competition and balance.
He further called CBS News’s decision to edit one of Vice President Kamala Harris’ answers in a “60 Minutes” interview a “fake news scandal.”
“60 Minutes is a major part of the News Organization of CBS, which has just created the Greatest Fraud in Broadcast History,” Trump told Just the News. “CBS should lose its license, and it should be bid out to the Highest Bidder, as should all other Broadcast Licenses, because they are just as corrupt as CBS – and maybe even WORSE!”
“The fraud committed by 60 Minutes and CBS, together with the Democrat Party, is the single Biggest Scandal in Broadcast History!” he continued.
“A giant Fake News Scam by CBS & 60 Minutes. Her REAL ANSWER WAS CRAZY, OR DUMB, so they actually REPLACED it with another answer in order to save her or, at least, make her look better. A FAKE NEWS SCAM, which is totally illegal,” Trump posted Thursday.
“TAKE AWAY THE CBS LICENSE. Election Interference. She is a Moron, and the Fake News Media wants to hide that fact. An UNPRECEDENTED SCANDAL!!! The Dems got them to do this and should be forced to concede the Election? WOW!” he added.
“I think something needs to be done,” Republican National Convention Chairman Michael Whatley said on the “John Solomon Reports” podcast. “But I also think you [can] can look at the major news media outlets and look at their viewership. Look at their market share over the course of the last 20-30 years.”
He added that lots of viewing for mainstream outlets is down and other outlets are gaining more attention.
The Harris campaign has denied involvement in the decision to make the edit.
“We do not control CBS’s production decisions and refer questions to CBS,” a Harris campaign aide said to Fox News.
CBS News did not respond to a request for comment on the editing.
During the interview, host Bill Whitaker brought up U.S. foreign aid for Israel in its war against Hamas and said “it seems that Prime Minister Netanyahu is not listening” to the U.S.
In the promotional clip that CBS published on Sunday, Harris responded: “The work that we have done has resulted in a number of movements in that region by Israel that were very much prompted by or a result of many things, including our advocacy for what needs to happen in the region.”
In the full interview segment that aired later, Harris’ answer is different.
“We are not going to stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need for this war to end,” she said.