Trump Expects CBS News to Become Fairer Under New Ownership
President Donald Trump has expressed his belief that CBS News will become more balanced with the change in management, specifically under billionaire David Ellison and the new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss.
In an interview aired on CNN, Trump stated, “I don’t think they’ll be like Fox News. It’s just fair.” This reflects his hopes for a more impartial news outlet.
Interestingly, Fox News shares ownership with the New York Post, another prominent media outlet.
Just a few days ago, Trump praised both David and his father, Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle, during a press event on Air Force One. Larry Ellison is overseeing CBS as part of an $8.4 billion merger with Paramount and Skydance.
“Larry Ellison is great, and his son David is great. They’re my friends. They’re my biggest supporters,” Trump remarked, emphasizing his connection with them.
He expressed optimism about the future, saying, “They’ll make the right decision. They’ll revitalize CBS. Hopefully, they’ll bring CBS back to its former glory.”
Trump added, “They’re going to create CBS — I hope so. They called it the Tiffany Network. And it has great potential. CBS has great potential.” It’s interesting how he references the network’s esteemed history.
However, Trump also took a jab at former CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell amid rumors she might return. “So who will be the head anchor for CBS?” he questioned, seemingly incredulous at the thought of O’Donnell holding the position again.
David Ellison took the reins of CBS News following the merger, which came on the heels of a controversial federal lawsuit involving Trump. The lawsuit, centered around a 60 Minutes interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, alleged that the network deceived viewers by editing her responses to favor Democrats.
While Paramount denied wrongdoing, they settled the lawsuit for $16 million in July. Under this agreement, the settlement funds were designated for Trump’s future presidential library, and CBS committed to releasing recordings of future political interviews with some redactions for national security reasons.
Ellison’s initiative to reform CBS News is evident, especially with his recent appointment of Bari Weiss. Weiss is known for her pro-Israel views and criticism of identity politics. In a memo to staff, she emphasized the need for “rigorous, fact-based reporting” and a commitment to representing diverse voices.
Following her appointment, Weiss faced immediate challenges within CBS, with reports of significant divisions among staff. One veteran employee even referred to CBS as a “den of snakes,” suggesting resistance to change.
Weiss’s first major decision was promoting Adam Rubenstein, a conservative editor, to vice president—an action some say reflects her trust in him. Shortly after, she pushed for interviews related to the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire, drawing mixed reactions from within the organization.
Former anchor Dan Rather critiqued these changes, warning that the relationship between the Ellison family and Trump could jeopardize CBS’s journalistic integrity. “It’s a dark day on CBS News,” he commented.
Tensions intensified when Weiss requested staff members to outline their roles and recent work, prompting confusion. The Writers Guild of America East, which represents many CBS journalists, told members to disregard this request, indicating potential discord regarding Weiss’s new directives.
Despite the turmoil, the push to align CBS News’ editorial approach appears to have backing from former controlling shareholder Shari Redstone, who emphasized the need for fact-based reporting and balance.
Weiss’s internal review has raised questions about future personnel decisions, as names like O’Donnell and Gayle King have circulated as possible announcers for CBS Evening News. For now, sources indicate that Weiss’s calm approach has assuaged some unease in the newsroom as changes loom.
Ultimately, CBS News, the Ellisons, and Weiss have not provided comments regarding the ongoing situation.
