By Katherine Tinsley
3:12pm PDT, Apr 22, 2025
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Donald Trump's legal battle against
60 Minutes and CBS News is beginning to impact the show's structure: The program's executive producer,
Bill Owens, has announced he's
stepping down from the coveted role. Keep reading for the details…
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In a memo obtained by
The New York Times, Bill Owens shared with his team that he will no longer be a part of the popular program.
"Over the past months, it has become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it, to make independent decisions based on what was right for
60 Minutes, right for the audience," Owens wrote.
"So, having defended this show — and what we stand for — from every angle, over time with everything I could, I am stepping aside so the show can move forward," he continued.
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While Bill Owens is leaving his job, 60 Minutes is expected to continue airing without him.
"The show is too important to the country. It has to continue, just not with me as the executive producer," Owens said.
Various news personalities reacted to the loss, which follows Donald Trump's recent lawsuit against CBS.
"This is a dangerous moment," attorney and Substack creator Amee Vanderpool wrote on X.
CNN's Brian Stelter, meanwhile, wrote on X that Owens' resignation is proof there's a "pattern" of "Trump's autocratic playbook."
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On Sunday, April 13, Donald Trump took to Truth Social to celebrate his legal battle against Paramount and its subsidiary CBS.
"I am so honored to be suing
60 Minutes, CBS Fake News, and Paramount, over their fraudulent, beyond recognition, reporting," the president wrote, referencing his accusations that CBS manipulated
60 Minutes footage from a
Kamala Harris campaign interview, which he alleged was a form of election interference.
"They did everything possible to illegally elect Kamala, including completely and corruptly changing major answers to Interview questions, but it just didn't work for them. They are not a 'News Show,' but a dishonest Political Operative simply disguised as 'News,' and must be responsible for what they have done, and are doing," Trump continued.
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Donald Trump's lawsuit against CBS could greatly impact the network.
"They should lose their license! Hopefully, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as headed by its Highly Respected Chairman, Brendan Carr, will impose the maximum fines and punishment, which is substantial, for their unlawful and illegal behavior," the real estate tycoon said.
"CBS is out of control, at levels never seen before, and they should pay a big price for this," he continued. "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
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Before celebrating his decision to take legal action against CBS, Donald Trump accused the network of breaking the law and journalistic code.
"Almost every week, 60 Minutes, which is being sued for Billions of Dollars for the fraud they committed in the 2024 Presidential Election with their Interview of Failed Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris, mentions the name 'TRUMP' in a derogatory and defamatory way, but this Weekend's 'BROADCAST' tops them all," he claimed on Truth Social.
