CBS News and Stations’ president and CEO, Wendy McMahon, resigned from her position Monday morning amidst the company’s legal dispute with President Donald Trump.
McMahon, who took charge of CBS News in 2023, attributed her departure to continuous disagreements with the company’s leadership, describing the recent months as ‘challenging,’ as reported by POLITICO.
Legal Standoff with Trump
‘It has become evident that the company and I do not share the same vision for the future,’ McMahon stated. Her departure was initially reported by The New York Times.
Paramount, the parent company of CBS, entered into discussions with Trump’s legal team last month to settle a $20 billion lawsuit filed by Trump following allegations of deceptive editing in a ’60 Minutes’ interview with then-Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, aired last year. Legal scholars have dismissed the president’s claims as unfounded.
Settlement Negotiations
Shari Redstone, the majority stakeholder in Paramount, is reportedly inclined towards resolving the lawsuit as Paramount navigates its sale, which necessitates approval from the Trump administration.
The lawsuit has thrust CBS into the spotlight of Trump’s crusade against media entities he deems adversarial, launching a series of attacks on the network and other publications like The Atlantic and The New York Times in recent times. In a recent statement, Trump alleged that the CBS interview with Harris ‘cheated and defrauded the American People at levels never seen before in the Political Arena.’
Internal Turmoil
In addition to external pressure, CBS has witnessed internal disruptions. In April, the executive producer of ’60 Minutes,’ Bill Owens, resigned citing a loss of editorial independence over his work.
McMahon expressed solidarity with Owens following his departure, emphasizing that supporting his principles was an uncomplicated decision. This stance potentially placed her at odds with the company’s leadership.
Public Reactions
Anna Gomez, a Federal Communications Commission commissioner appointed during the Biden administration, expressed concern over McMahon’s exit, labeling it ‘alarming’ in a social media post on Monday.
‘Independent journalists are being muzzled simply because their reporting may challenge the interests of their corporate owners,’ Gomez remarked. ‘This trend will only empower an Administration determined to stifle speech and regulate content.’
George Cheeks, co-CEO of Paramount Global, commended McMahon for her stewardship at the organization in a message to the network’s employees shared with POLITICO.
‘In a rapidly evolving landscape, Wendy and her teams have diligently crafted a vision and laid a groundwork that adapts our news operations for the future,’ Cheeks acknowledged.
