‘We’ll Sue Your A– Off’: Leaked Audio Exposes Karoline Leavitt Threatening CBS – and Relaying Trump’s Orders

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was recorded threatening to sue CBS News if the network edited or cut President Donald Trump’s recent interview with “CBS Evening News” anchor Tony Dokoupil, according to audio obtained by The New York Times.

The exchange, which occurred off-camera immediately after the interview taped in Michigan on Tuesday, offers a rare glimpse into the administration’s aggressive posture toward major broadcast networks and its determination to control how Trump’s appearances are presented to the public.

In the brief but intense conversation, Leavitt delivered a direct message from the president: “He said, ‘Make sure you guys don’t cut the tape, make sure the interview is out in full.’”

Dokoupil responded calmly: “Yeah, we’re doing it, yeah.”

Leavitt immediately escalated: “He said, ‘If it’s not out in full, we’ll sue your a– off.’”

The threat is not unprecedented. In 2024, Trump sued CBS over alleged selective editing of a 60 Minutes interview, a case that ultimately settled for $16 million paid by the network’s corporate parent.

The administration has filed or threatened legal action against multiple outlets—including The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, and the BBC—often citing what it describes as “fake news” or biased reporting.

Ultimately, CBS aired the full, unedited interview on Wednesday, which the network insisted was its plan from the outset. CBS News issued a statement Saturday: “The moment we booked this interview, we made the independent decision to air it unedited and in its entirety.”

Leavitt responded to the controversy on X: “The American people deserve to watch President Trump’s full interviews, unedited, no cuts. And guess what? The interview ran in full.”

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Interview Content and Notable Exchanges

During the CBS sit-down, Trump addressed several pressing issues: The ongoing immigration crackdown in Minnesota following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent. Rising tensions with Iran amid regional instability. Also, persistent public concerns over high grocery prices and inflation.

In one memorable moment, Trump teased the new anchor: “You wouldn’t have a job right now” if Kamala Harris had won the 2024 election.

Dokoupil pushed back: “I do think I’d have this job even if the other guys won.”

Trump replied: “Yeah, but at a lesser salary.”

The exchange showed Trump’s combative style with journalists, even during formal interviews.

The Leavitt threat fits into a well-established pattern of the Trump administration’s adversarial relationship with legacy media: Multiple lawsuits and legal threats against major outlets for alleged defamation, biased editing, or inaccurate reporting.

Last week’s FBI raid on the home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson, during which agents seized her personal and work devices as part of an investigation into leaks from a Pentagon contractor.

Natanson was told she was not the target, but the seizure raised serious press freedom concerns.

More so, Leavitt’s own combative briefings, including a recent incident where she refused to answer questions from an Irish journalist and labeled him a “left-wing hack” and “left-wing activist” who “shouldn’t even be sitting in that seat.”

These actions have been defended by the administration as necessary to combat “fake news” and ensure accurate, unfiltered coverage of the president. Critics argue they represent an unprecedented campaign of intimidation against the press.

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Looking at Press Freedom and Media Reaction

Media watchdogs and First Amendment organizations expressed alarm at the recording. The incident—combined with the Natanson raid has raised questions about whether the administration is escalating efforts to control or punish unfavorable coverage.

The Committee to Protect Journalists and other groups have called for greater transparency and safeguards to protect journalists from retaliatory actions by federal authorities.

CBS News emphasized its editorial independence: “Our commitment to presenting interviews in full when appropriate, particularly when they involve the president, is longstanding and predates any external pressure.”

The threat of legal action against CBS—whether serious or rhetorical adds to the already tense relationship between the Trump White House and major media organizations. The 2024 60 Minutes lawsuit demonstrated the administration’s willingness to pursue costly litigation, even when the ultimate outcome is a settlement.

With 2026 midterms approaching, the episode could become campaign fodder. Democrats have already highlighted it as evidence of authoritarian tendencies, while Trump supporters view it as a necessary stand against biased editing.

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Incidents like this ensure that the battle over narrative control remains central to Trump’s second term as the administration continues its aggressive posture toward both domestic policy and the press.

For now, the leaked audio stands as an illustration of how far the White House is willing to go to ensure its message is delivered exactly as intended—unedited, unchallenged, and uninterrupted.