Trump Strikes Back at ‘60 Minutes’ with Explosive Retaliation
President Donald Trump unleashed a firestorm on May 6, 2025, retaliating against CBS’s 60 Minutes after their scathing segment titled “The Rule of Law” aired on May 4. The segment, which scrutinized Trump’s executive orders targeting law firms he accuses of “weaponizing” the justice system, sent the president into a rage. In a late-night Truth Social post, Trump declared the lawsuit against CBS a “true WINNER,” vowing to escalate his $20 billion legal battle and adding a bombshell: “They’re liars and fraudsters, and I’ll make them pay for disrespecting me!”
The 60 Minutes segment, hosted by Scott Pelley, exposed Trump’s orders as “unconstitutional retaliation,” spotlighting firms like Perkins Coie, accused of “unsavory practices” tied to investigations against Trump. A federal judge recently blocked one such order, fueling the segment’s narrative of an assault on the legal profession. Marc Elias, a former Perkins Coie lawyer, called Trump’s actions “an attack on the entire legal system.” The broadcast also highlighted internal CBS turmoil, with Pelley previously accusing parent company Paramount of supervising content to appease Trump’s administration amid a merger needing federal approval.
Trump’s counterattack was swift and personal. On X, he branded 60 Minutes “fake news” and claimed they “should lose their license” for biased reporting. Supporters echoed his fury, with some calling the show “Trump’s piggy bank” for racking up lawsuit costs. Others, however, saw the segment as a bold stand against Trump’s tactics, with posts praising 60 Minutes for exposing his “illegal schemes.” The hashtag #TrumpVs60Minutes trended globally, splitting users between those cheering Trump’s defiance and those decrying his attacks on press freedom.
The timing couldn’t be more volatile. Paramount’s merger hangs in the balance, and Trump’s lawsuit accuses 60 Minutes of editing a 2024 Kamala Harris interview to sway voters, a claim under FCC investigation. Insiders say Paramount’s Shari Redstone urged CBS to delay critical stories, but Pelley’s segment defied those pressures, risking further legal and corporate fallout. Critics, including lawyer John Keker, likened Trump’s tactics to a “protection racket,” warning of bribery-like deals with firms offering pro bono work to avoid punishment.
This clash marks a new low in Trump’s war on media. Will his lawsuit crush 60 Minutes, or has he ignited a battle he can’t win? As the nation watches, the stakes—legal, political, and journalistic—have never been higher.
