CBS News CEO, Wendy McMahon resigns, amid high stakes Trump lawsuit settlement

CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon announced her resignation on Monday, May 19, 2025, after four years at the network.

This reportedly marked another major leadership departure as CBS’s parent company, Paramount Global, weighs a potential legal settlement with President Donald Trump over a controversial “60 Minutes” segment.

In an email to staff, McMahon cited growing disagreements with the company’s direction.

“It’s become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward,” she wrote.

“It’s time to move on and for this organization to move forward with new leadership.”

McMahon’s departure follows that of “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens, who resigned last month.

Both McMahon and Owens are said to have opposed settling the lawsuit filed by Trump.

The former president sued CBS, accusing the network of editing an interview with Kamala Harris, his 2024 Democratic opponent, in a way that favored her campaign.

CBS News has denied any wrongdoing, but Paramount Global is currently in discussions to settle the lawsuit.

This legal matter is unfolding as Paramount also seeks regulatory approval for a proposed merger with Skydance Media.

With this development, CBS News President Tom Cibrowski and CBS Stations President Jennifer Mitchell, will now report directly to George Cheeks, co-CEO of Paramount Global and head of the CBS network.

Cheeks made this public. Both Cibrowski and Mitchell were McMahon’s senior deputies.

McMahon acknowledged the turbulence in her farewell message, saying, “The past few months have been challenging.”

She added that she has worked to stabilize operations and ensure strong leadership is in place.

“I have spent the last few months shoring up our businesses and making sure the right leaders are in place, and I have no doubt they will continue to set the standard,” she wrote.

Tensions at the network have not been limited to Trump’s lawsuit.

Paramount’s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, has also raised concerns about CBS’s editorial stance, particularly coverage of Israel’s war in Gaza.

One notable point of contention was a “60 Minutes” segment aired over the winter, which reportedly displeased Redstone.

In response to those concerns, Paramount introduced new oversight procedures for “60 Minutes.”

These reportedly include involving former CBS News President Susan Zirinsky to review stories before they were broadcast.

This increased supervision contributed to Owens’ decision to resign.

The show’s veteran correspondent, Scott Pelley, acknowledged the discontent on air, stating that “none of us is happy” with the changes.

Meanwhile, CBS News is also grappling with challenges on the broadcast front, particularly in revamping its flagship program, “CBS Evening News.”

The network is currently working to establish a new anchor duo, John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois, amid ongoing ratings struggles.

Despite these internal issues, McMahon received praise for her achievements during her tenure.

In a note to staff, Cheeks commended her for strengthening local news coverage at CBS-owned stations and improving the stations’ market performance.

He also acknowledged her role in enhancing the network’s digital offerings.

This supposedly have become an increasingly critical part of CBS’s strategy in a rapidly evolving media landscape.

McMahon’s departure marks a significant moment for CBS News, which has been under considerable pressure both internally and externally.

The organization faces legal, political, and journalistic scrutiny, and continues efforts to rebuild audience trust and boost ratings.

While at it, leadership decisions made in the coming weeks will likely shape the future direction of the network.

Her resignation underscores broader tensions at CBS between journalistic integrity, corporate interests, and political influence.

With the network’s credibility and independence under the spotlight, the next phase of leadership will need to balance these competing forces while navigating a rapidly shifting media environment.

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