White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller has urged CBS News to fire producers at “60 Minutes” following internal turmoil over a shelved segment regarding Venezuelan deportations, accusing staff of launching a “revolt” against new leadership.
Miller’s comments, made during an appearance on Fox News’s “Jesse Watters Primetime,” come amid a heated public dispute involving “60 Minutes” correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi and Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss. Weiss recently pulled a segment focused on Venezuelan men deported to the El Salvadoran CECOT prison, stating the report was not ready for air.
Why It Matters
The conflict highlights growing tensions over editorial control within one of America’s most venerable news magazines. The decision to pull the story has sparked accusations of political interference from critics, while supporters of the move argue the piece lacked necessary context regarding the Trump administration’s stance on criminal deportations.
Miller framed the internal pushback against Weiss as insubordination that warrants termination.
“Every one of those producers at ’60 Minutes’ engaged in this revolt, fire them. Clean house, fire them,” Miller told guest host Charles Hunt. He characterized the deportees featured in the shelved report as dangerous criminals, referencing the murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Texas. “They know that these are monsters, who got exactly what they deserved. Because under President Trump, we are not going to let little girls get raped, and murdered anymore.”
What To Know
The controversy centers on a report by Sharyn Alfonsi that investigated the conditions of Venezuelan men sent to CECOT. The report highlighted claims from men who said they were falsely accused of associating with Tren de Aragua—now designated as a foreign terrorist organization—and were never convicted of crimes. One subject, Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia, was described by lawyers as having been wrongfully deported.
Weiss defended her decision to hold the piece, stating it needed comment from Trump administration “principals” like Miller to provide balance.
“Holding stories that aren’t ready for whatever reason — that they lack sufficient context, say, or that they are missing critical voices — happens every day in every newsroom,” Weiss said in a statement.
However, Alfonsi disputed the reasoning in a memo shared with media outlets, noting the story had been screened five times and cleared by CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices.
“It is factually correct. In my view, pulling it now—after every rigorous internal check has been met, is not an editorial decision, it is a political one,” Alfonsi wrote. She clarified that requests for comment had been directed toward the El Salvadoran government, which did not respond.
Regarding his involvement, Miller stated on Tuesday that he did not recall CBS reaching out to him directly. “I don’t remember anybody reaching out to me… but more fundamentally this is another pathetic ’60 Minutes’ hatchet job,” Miller said, accusing producers of trying to elicit sympathy for gang members while “living in their West End condos.”
What People Are Saying
The decision to pull the segment has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers and public figures who view it as capitulation to political pressure.
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) criticized the network on the social platform X, writing, “What is happening to CBS is a terrible embarrassment and if executives think they can build shareholder value by avoiding journalism that might offend the Mad King they are about to learn a tough lesson.”
Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), a vocal critic of Donald Trump, posted screenshots of himself canceling his subscription to Paramount+, the parent company’s streaming service, labeling the network “State owned media.”
Conversely, Miller challenged the producers to personally house the deportees. “I’ll make a deal, we will pick someone at random that we sent to CECOT… and they will spend one day overnight in your apartment. Who’s taking that deal at ’60 Minutes?’ Nobody,” he said.
What Happens Next
While the segment was dismissed from U.S. television, a 13-minute version of the interview with CECOT prisoners has aired in Canada and circulated online, featuring allegations of physical and sexual abuse within the prison.
Weiss has stated she looks “forward to airing this important piece when it’s ready,” suggesting the story may eventually run if editorial conditions are met. It remains to be seen how CBS leadership will address the internal friction or if Miller’s call for firings will influence personnel decisions at the network.
