Tensions between Donald Trump camp and the media hit a boiling point this week, as Trump top communications aide didn’t hold back after the sudden resignation of 60 Minutes boss Bill Owens. In a post that’s catching fire online, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung blasted Owens, calling him “a liar and a fraud,” and adding a fiery jab: “Karma is a b***h.”
Owens’ decision to step down comes while 60 Minutes battles a $20 billion lawsuit filed by Trump, who claims the newsmagazine edited an interview with Kamala Harris to make her look better. Trump, who had been slated for a 60 Minutes sit-down of his own, pulled out after finding out the interview would be fact-checked.
Cheung, posting on X (formerly Twitter), didn’t mince words. He claimed Owens personally called during Trump’s campaign, “begging” for an interview. Once it became clear, Cheung said, that the show had no plans to be fair, they declined. After Harris’ segment aired, Cheung accused 60 Minutes of twisting the situation to paint Trump’s team in a bad light.
Bill Owens, who had led 60 Minutes since 2019, explained his exit by saying he no longer felt he could make “independent decisions” to run the program. “I am stepping aside so the show can move forward,” Owens said in a statement.
The drama highlights the ever-growing rift between Trump’s circle and major media outlets, just as the former president gears up for another high-stakes election battle.
