In a fiery escalation of his long-running battle with the media, Donald Trump has launched a blistering attack on CBS and its flagship program 60 Minutes. The former president is accusing the network of defamation and politically motivated manipulation following their recent segments about his alleged foreign policy dealings in Ukraine and his renewed interest in acquiring Greenland.
Trump didn’t hold back, taking to Truth Social to demand that CBS “pay a big price” for what he called “unlawful and defamatory” reporting. He has since filed a staggering $20 billion lawsuit against the network and urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue maximum fines for what he claims is a breach of ethical broadcasting standards.
This is no ordinary media skirmish. With high-stakes accusations, a powerful media conglomerate, and Trump’s ongoing influence over millions of Americans, the situation is shaping up to be a political-media showdown of historic proportions. Here’s everything you need to know about how this storm erupted—and where it might be headed next.
What Sparked Trump’s Fury?
The “60 Minutes” Broadcast Breakdown
The latest flare-up began with a 60 Minutes broadcast that aired over the weekend, diving into controversial elements of Trump’s past and potential future foreign policy. The segment contained two explosive stories: one about Trump’s alleged promises to end the war in Ukraine by cutting aid to Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government, and the other about a resurrected proposal to pay Greenland residents $10,000 annually if they agreed to join the U.S. via a buyout of the island.
According to CBS, both stories were supported by confidential sources and expert commentary. The Ukraine segment included parts of an interview with President Zelenskyy, in which he indirectly criticized past U.S. inaction and warned against making deals with Vladimir Putin. The Greenland portion cited internal memos and anonymous Trump campaign insiders discussing economic incentives for annexation.
Trump wasted no time responding. Within hours, he posted multiple angry statements on Truth Social accusing CBS of “knowingly broadcasting lies” and said the network had become “an extension of the Democrat propaganda machine.” He insisted the show’s producers deliberately distorted facts and edited interviews to support Democratic frontrunner Kamala Harris.
Claims of Media Bias
Trump’s animosity toward mainstream media, particularly liberal-leaning outlets like CBS, CNN, and MSNBC, is well documented. But this time, he’s taken things a step further. He claims the 60 Minutes broadcast was not merely biased—it was strategically edited to sabotage his campaign and promote his likely 2024 rival, Kamala Harris.
According to Trump’s legal team, the lawsuit alleges “intentional misrepresentation,” “false narrative construction,” and “partisan editing” meant to portray Trump as reckless and dangerous. His team is also demanding a retraction, public apology, and punitive damages totaling $20 billion.
More than just legal jargon, this lawsuit is a clear escalation in Trump’s war against what he famously brands “Fake News.” For him and his supporters, this fight isn’t just about facts—it’s about defending their voice in a media landscape they feel is stacked against them.
The Ukraine Segment
Zelenskyy’s Interview and U.S. Foreign Policy
The portion of the 60 Minutes episode that drew the most immediate outrage focused on Ukraine. President Zelenskyy reportedly expressed concern that Trump, if reelected, could drastically cut support for Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression. The segment also included anonymous claims that Trump intended to “broker peace” by freezing the conflict and pressuring Ukraine to negotiate with Moscow.
Trump denied all of this. He insists he would bring peace to the region by forcing Putin and Zelenskyy into a “reasonable and fast resolution,” but he categorically rejected the idea of abandoning Ukraine or rewarding Russia. “No one was tougher on Russia than me,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “This is just another hoax by the corrupt media trying to make me look weak.”
His supporters argue that Trump’s position is about ending endless wars, not surrendering to aggressors. Critics, however, say his vagueness and cozy rhetoric toward Putin during his presidency raise red flags.
Why Trump Sees This as Political Warfare
Trump believes the 60 Minutes report wasn’t a random journalistic investigation—it was political warfare. He argues the timing of the broadcast, which aired shortly after Harris surged in national polls, was designed to kneecap his foreign policy credentials and sway undecided voters.
The report painted him as impulsive and potentially dangerous on the global stage. Trump’s team claims CBS did this deliberately, choosing to air quotes out of context, omit favorable facts, and overemphasize speculative narratives. “They’re not journalists. They’re activists,” Trump said. “They need to be held accountable.”
Trump’s camp is pushing for CBS to release the raw footage of the interviews to prove their point, while also calling for a congressional investigation into what they describe as a “media-industrial complex” colluding with the Democratic Party.
The Greenland Controversy
The $10,000 Proposal to Greenlanders
The Greenland part of the report may sound bizarre to some, but it’s not the first time Trump has floated the idea of acquiring the Danish territory. According to CBS, Trump’s inner circle recently revived the plan, discussing whether offering every Greenland citizen $10,000 a year in return for supporting U.S. annexation could help “sell” the proposal to the public.
This isn’t satire—it was part of the broadcast, and reportedly taken seriously by Trump’s team. CBS said documents and emails from within his political network suggest ongoing interest in the idea, even after Denmark’s firm rejection years ago.
Trump, however, says the idea was misrepresented. “They made it sound like I wanted to bribe people,” he wrote. “It was a hypothetical strategy conversation, not a plan. We talked about making Greenland great. That’s it.”
Trump’s History with Greenland
Back in 2019, while still in office, Trump stunned diplomats when he expressed interest in purchasing Greenland—a territory of Denmark. The idea was mocked globally, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen calling it “absurd.” Trump retaliated by canceling a planned visit to Denmark.
The idea may have seemed outlandish, but it reflects Trump’s real estate background: he views geopolitics like a business deal. Supporters see it as visionary thinking; critics see it as reckless imperialism. Regardless, CBS’s decision to frame it as part of a broader annexation scheme infuriated Trump—and reignited a controversy many thought was long dead.
