60 Minutes aired a segment on Sunday discussing deportations under the Trump administration, which had been removed from the lineup a month earlier. The decision to pull the story led to internal disputes over political pressure within the news organization.
Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi did not mention her disagreement with CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss in the segment focusing on deportees sent to El Salvador’s CECOT prison. Alfonsi expressed to her colleagues that the removal of the segment was politically motivated rather than an editorial choice.
Weiss contended that the story did not adequately represent the administration’s perspective or build on previous reporting by other news outlets. Despite the absence of on-camera interviews with Trump administration officials, the segment included statements from the White House and Department of Homeland Security that were not part of Alfonsi’s original piece.
Alfonsi revealed that 60 Minutes had sought on-camera interviews with key administration officials since November but had been turned down. She viewed the administration’s refusal as a strategic move to suppress the story.
CBS News later clarified that they had always intended to air the CECOT piece and emphasized their commitment to journalistic independence and impactful storytelling. Alfonsi’s report was featured as the second of three segments on the show.
The initial decision to remove Alfonsi’s story sparked criticism, with some suggesting that Weiss’ leadership was influenced by the network’s desire to appease the Trump administration. Despite being pulled from the broadcast, Alfonsi’s original story was mistakenly published online, allowing viewers to compare it to the revised version that eventually aired on 60 Minutes.
The body of the story remained unchanged, featuring comments from President Trump and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Alfonsi updated the introduction to include recent events, such as the U.S. raid leading to the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. The administration also provided additional information and photos related to the migrants sent to El Salvador.
The relationship between CBS and the administration has shifted since Weiss’s appointment, resulting in increased visibility of Trump officials on CBS News programs. Notably, President Trump was interviewed by Norah O’Donnell on 60 Minutes in November. Recent reports indicate a tense exchange between the administration and CBS regarding interview content.
Trump’s history of objecting to interview edits was highlighted, including instances where he released unedited transcripts of interviews.