Mainstream media outlets have been accused of running cover for Democratic politicians for years, but the latest instance of this trend may have been a step too far. Former President Donald Trump and numerous other conservatives are accusing CBS News of cutting and pasting Vice President Kamala Harris’s answers to questions in her recent “60 Minutes” interview. On Monday, CBS News aired its interview with the Democratic presidential nominee, which even then was panned as “nonsense.” Some even said that Harris “melted down” when CBS News personality Bill Whitaker asked her follow-up questions.

Shortly after the interview was aired on Monday, however, social media users compared it against clips from the teaser released Sunday night and found several discrepancies. In fact, several of the answers Harris gave in the teaser were never featured in the aired interview and vice versa. In the teaser released by CBS News, Harris answered a question regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by saying, “Well, Bill, the work that we have done has resulted in a number of movements in that region by Israel that were very much prompted by or a result of many things, including our advocacy for what needs to happen in the region.” In the aired interview, in response to the exact same question, Harris answered, “We are not going to stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need for this war to end.” The answer shown in Sunday night’s teaser was not featured at all.

Karoline Leavitt, national press secretary for former President Donald Trump’s campaign, commented, “On Sunday, 60 Minutes teased Kamala’s highly-anticipated sit-down interview with one of her worst word salads to date, which received significant criticism on social media. During the full interview on Monday evening, the word salad was deceptively edited to lessen Kamala’s idiotic response.” She asked, “Why did 60 Minutes choose not to air Kamala’s full word salad, and what else did they choose not to air? The American people deserve the full, unedited transcript from Kamala’s sit-down interview. We call upon 60 Minutes and CBS to release it.”

Trump himself was also quick to respond. On Truth Social, he posted:

“I’ve never seen this before, but the producers of 60 Minutes sliced and diced (‘cut and pasted’) Lyin’ Kamala’s answers to questions, which were virtually incoherent, over and over again, some by as many as four times in a single sentence or thought, all in an effort, possibly illegal as part of the ‘News Division,’ which must be licensed, to make her look ‘more Presidential,’ or a[t] least, better. It may also be a major Campaign Finance Violation. This is a stain on the reputation of 60 Minutes that is not recoverable — It will always remain with this once storied brand. I have never heard of such a thing being done in ‘News.’ It is the very definition of FAKE NEWS! The public is owed a MAJOR AND IMMEDIATE APOLOGY! This is an open and shut case, and must be investigated, starting today!”

He followed up his post by alleging that CBS News’s editing of Harris’s interview is “Election Interference.” Trump said, “A giant Fake News Scam by CBS & 60 Minutes. Her REAL ANSWER WAS CRAZY, OR DUMB, so they actually REPLACED it with another answer in order to save her or, at least, make her look better.” He continued, “She is a Moron, and the Fake News Media wants to hide that fact. An UNPRECEDENTED SCANDAL!!! The Dems got them to do this and should be forced to concede the Election? WOW!”

“If 60 Minutes had an ounce of integrity, they would release the full, unedited interview,” said Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Trump’s running mate. He added, “The person who can’t answer basic questions about national security wants to be our next president. Show us what she actually said, in full.” Trump advisor Stephen Miller commented, “As uniquely disastrous as Kamala’s 60 minutes flaming train wreck of an interview is, remember that this is the *most* favorable edit the CBS partisans could make for her.” Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly asked, “I mean, you see what they did, don’t you? It’s so nakedly partisan and desperate to save her.” She continued, “That first answer is just classic Kamala Harris isn’t it? This is CBS running cover for Kamala Harris. I’m amazed they had the guts to do it given that they had released the tease.”

Catherine Herridge, a former CBS News investigative reporter who was fired by the network after reporting on Hunter Biden’s laptop, said that there “is precedent” for CBS News to release the full, unedited transcript of Harris’s “60 Minutes” interview. She noted that when she herself interviewed Trump in 2020, CBS News released the complete transcript. “It's about transparency and standing behind the integrity of the final edit,” Herridge concluded.

A coalition of Republican senators has also called on CBS News to release the unedited transcript of Harris’s interview, according to the Daily Wire. Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-N.D.) said, “If the Harris campaign stands by all of the vice president’s comments, then I’m not sure why they wouldn’t support releasing the full interview.” He added, “In fact, their refusal to join these calls only raises more questions.” Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) commented, “CBS has proven its bias. A news organization should never selectively edit a candidate’s words. The American people deserve full transparency and the full transcript.” Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said that “Vice President Kamala Harris’ 60 Minutes interview transcript should be released in its entirety. The transcript will speak for itself and there is no reason not to clear the air.” Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) noted, “The press *changed Kamala’s answer* to make her appear more coherent than reality.” He continued, “This is deeply dishonest disinformation. That Kamala can’t answer basic questions shows she is dangerously unprepared to serve as president.”

This is not the first time CBS News — and specifically the “60 Minutes” program — has edited the aired or published interview conducted with a Democratic presidential candidate. In 2012, then-President Barack Obama, who was running for reelection at the time, admitted to CBS News’s Steve Kroft that the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, was a premeditated terrorist attack and not a riot in response to an “Islamophobic” video, as the White House suggested. Obama told “60 Minutes” that those who orchestrated the attack on the U.S. consulate “were looking to target Americans from the start.” CBS News removed the clip from the interview that it subsequently aired.