‘We’ll sue your a** off’: Karoline Leavitt warns CBS News not to edit Trump’s Ford plant interview

WASHINGTON, DC: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt warned CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil that the administration would "sue your a** off" if the network edited a recent interview with President Donald Trump, according to a newly surfaced recording. 

While the remark sounded like a threat, some people who witnessed the exchange believed Leavitt may have been joking.

Karoline  Leavitt issued the warning immediately after 'CBS Evening News' interview

The incident occurred immediately after 'CBS Evening News' anchor Dokoupil wrapped up the 13-minute interview with the president at the Ford Truck Plant in Dearborn, Michigan, on Tuesday, January 13.

According to a recording, Leavitt told the anchor, "Trump said, 'Make sure you guys don’t cut the tape, make sure the interview is out in full.'"

When Dokoupil agreed that CBS would air the interview in its entirety, the press secretary added, "He said, ‘If it’s not out in full, we’ll sue your a** off.’" 

Despite harsh language, The New York Times reported that "some of the CBS personnel who were there absorbed Ms. Leavitt’s remarks as being in jest, according to a person familiar with their thinking." 

History of legal battles between Trump and CBS

This warning comes amid an already tense relationship between Trump and CBS.

In 2024, the president sued the network over its editing of an interview with Kamala Harris. CBS's parent company later settled the lawsuit for $16 million.

Despite the latest threat, CBS News said it had already decided to air the interview in full before filming began. 

In a statement, the network said, "The moment we booked this interview, we made the independent decision to air it unedited and in its entirety."

CBS News has faced criticism of the network’s new style

The interview has also reignited debate over the direction of CBS News under its new leader, Bari Weiss. 

Trump has praised Weiss as a "great new leader," but some media observers have raised concerns that her political views may be influencing coverage.

Dokoupil, who was selected for his role by Weiss, has spoken openly about his desire to reshape the media.

Before starting his new position, he said, "On too many stories, the press missed the story because we’ve taken into account the perspective of advocates and not the average American. Or we put too much weight in the analysis of academics or elites, and not enough on you."

He concluded his debut show with patriotic phrases like "We love America" and once even told, "Marco Rubio, we salute you."