CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon Out Amid Network Clashes With Trump

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Wendy McMahon, the CEO and president of CBS News, announced she was stepping down from the network in an internal memo to staff Monday morning.

In the memo obtained by Mediaite, she wrote that “the past few months have been challenging.”

“It’s become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward,” she said. “It’s time for me to move on and for this organization to move forward with new leadership.”

According to reporting from CNBC, McMahon did not leave voluntarily. George Cheeks, the CEO of CBS, asked for her resignation over the weekend.

The ouster comes after months of turmoil stemming from Paramount’s controlling shareholder Shari Redstone’s efforts to sell the company. Her meddling in the newsroom of CBS News — she reportedly sought to rein in its coverage in order to appease the Trump administration and pave the way for a sale — is believed to have led to the resignation of Bill Owens, the widely respected executive producer of 60 Minutes.

McMahon backed Owens in the wake of his resignation, which he said stemmed from a breakdown of editorial independence at the famed news magazine, putting her at odds with executives who pushed for more control over its reporting.

President Donald Trump sued 60 Minutes for $20 billion over its interview during the 2024 election campaign with Kamala Harris, claiming it was deceptively edited. Legal analysts say there is no merit to the suit, which Redstone has reportedly sought to settle regardless.

Cheeks did not allude to any tensions or disagreements in his own memo announcing McMahon’s departure, instead extolling her run as head of the network and thanking her for her service. Cheeks said that CBS News president Tom Cibrowski and CBS Stations president Jennifer Mitchell will now report directly to him.

McMahon was named CEO of the network in 2023 after a run as president of Disney’s ABC-TV stations.