CBS News was rocked by fresh turmoil on Monday as network president Wendy McMahon abruptly announced her resignation, deepening the standoff between the news division and President Trump. In a memo to staff, McMahon said “it’s become clear the company and I do not agree on the path forward,” calling recent months “challenging.”
McMahon, who held the title of president of CBS News and Stations, has been at the center of ongoing friction between CBS and its parent company, Paramount. That conflict has escalated as Paramount moves toward settling a $20 billion lawsuit filed by President Trump over a “60 Minutes” interview with then–Vice President Kamala Harris, which Trump says was deceptively edited. Paramount’s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, is reportedly eager to resolve the case as she seeks regulatory approval from the Trump administration for a multibillion-dollar sale of the company to Skydance.
Last month, “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens resigned, citing a loss of journalistic independence. McMahon publicly supported Owens at the time, saying “standing behind” him “was an easy decision for me.” That move widened the divide between her and Paramount leadership, who were increasingly uneasy about the show’s coverage of the Trump administration.
Although newsroom insiders had speculated McMahon’s departure was imminent, the timing—less than 24 hours after the “60 Minutes” season finale—caught many off guard.
McMahon took the helm at CBS News in August 2023, but her tenure was marked by setbacks, including a recent overhaul of “CBS Evening News” that failed to boost ratings, which have continued to decline.
