CBS Evening News anchors John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois bade farewell to CBS president and CEO Wendy McMahon on Friday after she was reportedly forced out of the network amid President Donald Trump’s ongoing lawsuit against CBS parent company Paramount. “We end tonight with a farewell to two colleagues. Wendy McMahon is leaving us after four years at the helm of CBS News,” said Dickerson and DuBois at the end of their show on Friday evening.
“Wendy was not only our boss, but our friend and our guide, and a great supporter of this broadcast. We thank her for that and we wish her well.” The two anchors also said goodbye to NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt, who left NBC on Friday and previously worked at CBS. “We also salute our crosstown colleague Lester Holt on his final night as anchor of NBC Nightly News.
Lester made history when he took the anchor chair ten years ago and has been a tough competitor ever since,” they said. “Lester, many of us at CBS remember the 19 years you worked here before you lost your way, so we will always think of you as a member of our family, too. From all of us at CBS News, Lester, please take care of yourself.” The New York Times reported last week that McMahon had been “forced out of her post” amid President Trump’s ongoing lawsuit over an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris on 60 Minutes.
According to the Times, which cited several unnamed sources “with direct knowledge” of her departure, “Executives at Paramount informed Ms. McMahon on Saturday that they wanted her to step down.” McMahon subsequently told staff in a memo that “it’s become clear the company and I do not agree on the path forward.” It was reported this week that President Trump had rejected a settlement offer of $15 million from Paramount and was instead seeking more than $25 million from the company. Watch above via CBS News.