A new media controversy erupted after SiriusXM host Megyn Kelly accused CBS Newsâ 60 Minutes of deceptively editing an interview with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, creating the impression that he was answering a question about Israelâs influence on recent U.S. strikes against Iran when, in reality, he was responding to criticism from voices within the America First movement.
The accusation centers on how the segment aired versus what appeared in the full, unedited interview.
In the original exchange, 60 Minutes correspondent Major Garrett asked Hegseth to respond to criticism from prominent figures who identify with the America First movement. Garrett specifically named commentators and political figures including Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, noting that some had argued the strikes on Iran did not reflect an America First foreign policy.
âYou mentioned America First,â Garrett said in the unedited clip. âSome who identify with that movement⌠have said from their perspective, this isnât an America First campaign. Do you want to address that criticism?â
Hegseth responded with a defense of the administrationâs approach, pointing to decades of Iranian hostility toward the United States and threats against American forces.
âAll I know is, Iâm in the room every day and I see how Trump operates and what heâs putting first, and itâs America, Americans and American interests at every level,â Hegseth said. He went on to cite years of attacks on Americans, the targeting of U.S. troops by Iranian-made explosives in Iraq, and Tehranâs long pursuit of nuclear capabilities.
But when the segment aired on television, viewers saw a different setup. In the broadcast version, Garrett narrated that some critics claimed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had pulled the United States into a conflict that did not prioritize American interests. Immediately after that narration, the program cut to Garrett asking Hegseth to address criticism about America First.
Kelly argued the editing stitched together two separate ideas to suggest that Hegsethâs remarks were a direct response to claims that Israel had influenced the strikes.
Speaking on The Megyn Kelly Show, the host blasted the network, accusing CBS of misleading viewers and pushing a specific editorial agenda.
âThey do not give a shit about misleading you over at CBS,â Kelly said bluntly. She dismissed claims that the network has shifted toward pro-MAGA coverage, insisting the real ideological tilt runs in another direction.
âIt is not pro-MAGA at all,â Kelly said. âBut it is pro-Israel. Bari Weiss has finally achieved her dream of running a news network that is entirely pro-Israel.â
The clash lands on top of CBS Newsâ already bruised reputation following a massive legal fight with President Donald Trump. In October 2024, Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against CBS over another 60 Minutes interviewâthis one involving former Vice President Kamala Harris and her comments on the IsraelâHamas war. The lawsuit alleged CBS edited Harrisâ response in a way that concealed parts of her remarks about then-President Joe Bidenâs stance on Israel, potentially helping her politically during the 2024 election.
The legal pressure escalated. By February 2025, the lawsuit had grown to $20 billion.
CBS parent company Paramount ultimately agreed to a $16 million settlement in July 2025 and committed to releasing transcripts for all future 60 Minutes interviews with presidential candidates. The fallout was significant. Longtime executive producer Bill Owens stepped down in April 2025, and CBS News and Stations CEO Wendy MacMahon resigned the following month.
Now, with new allegations of selective editing swirling around one of the networkâs most famous programs, critics say the controversy is reopening old questions about media trust, editorial transparency, and whether Americaâs legacy news institutions are still playing it straight with viewers.
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