In a recent sit-down that sparked considerable controversy, CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil found himself under fire from liberal critics for what they perceived as a lenient approach during his interview with President Trump. In the exchange, the former president jestingly took credit for Dokoupil’s current position, a moment that did not sit well with some viewers.

The timing of this interview couldn’t have been more challenging for Dokoupil, who was navigating a difficult first week on the evening news desk. His debut was marred by technical glitches and a significant decline in ratings, adding pressure to his new role.

As the interview wrapped up on Tuesday night, President Trump playfully claimed some responsibility for Dokoupil’s career trajectory. This statement came after a discussion about rising inflation and grocery prices, where the president hinted that Dokoupil might not have had his job if Kamala Harris had been victorious in the election.

Trump remarked, “You wouldn’t have this job right now if she got in; you probably wouldn’t have a job right now. Your boss, who’s an amazing guy, might be bust. I doubt it in his case, but you never know.” This comment added a lighthearted conclusion to their conversation but also stirred further critique from those expecting a more confrontational stance from the journalist.

‘You wouldn’t have this job right now, if she got in, you probably wouldn’t have a job right now. Your boss, who’s an amazing guy, might be bust. I doubt it in his case, but you never know,’ he said. 

‘You wouldn’t have this job, whatever the hell they’re paying you. This country is rocketing right now, we have the hottest country in the world.’ 

Dokoupil failed to respond to Trump’s comments or defend himself, sparking much of the criticism online.

‘Tony just standing there and taking it,’ one liberal observer noted.

CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil got ripped by liberals for his interview with President Trump as the commander-in-chief himself joked that he helped get him the job

Trump got in on the act, crediting himself for Dokoupil’s employment at the end of their chat Tuesday night

‘Such a tough spot for Tony Dokoupil, get your dream job to anchor evening news but basically have to sell your integrity. CBS news is becoming an embarrassment with the new leadership it has.’ 

Another said that Dokoupil had been ‘steamrolled’ by Trump. 

‘I hope Dokoupil is enjoying this. Embarrassment to anyone who has any journalistic integrity at all. Is this the man he expected to see when he looks in the mirror?’ one critic wrote.

‘Dokoupil looks like a wet noodle. He looks confused and baffled like he didn’t know the stupid lies were coming. Absolutely embarrassing for CBS News,’ another added.

One conservative viewer, however, praised Dokoupil for his interview with Trump.

‘Wearing a suit and behaving respectfully Tony Dokoupil has amazing access to the President at a Ford plant, well done, President Trump is willing to respond to any and all questions without the typical politician speak, President Trump is authentic and this interview proves it,’ the supporter argued.

The interview comes after a tough first week with Dokoupil in the anchor chair. Despite securing an initial ratings bump for CBS, numbers have since dipped from its already last-place position.

Dokoupil’s show averaged 4.17million viewers for his first week on the air, down 23 percent from the 5.4million comparable week in 2025 with host Norah O’Donell, Variety reported. 

The show also saw a 23 percent dip among viewers ages 25 to 54, the demographic most coveted by advertisers for news shows. 

Dokoupil was questioning the president on inflation and ‘grocery prices going up’ when Trump suggested if Kamala Harris had won, Dokoupil wouldn’t be speaking to him

Both ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir – 8.1million – and NBC’s Nightly News with Tom Llamas – 6.73million – crushed CBS in total viewers. 

Dokoupil also had a worse first week than predecessor duo Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson – 4.82million – as well as the debuts of Jeff Glor – 7million – and O’Donnell – 5.72million. 

CBS instead touted Dokoupil’s success on digital, as time spent watching the network’s YouTube account went up 58 percent from last year.

The host’s first month on the job has been filled with controversy, outraging liberals as new CBS News chief Bari Weiss takes an ‘anti-woke’ approach to the legacy media network.

Dokoupil was the first major hire made by former New York Times opinion editor Weiss in her attempt to rebrand the network. 

The ex-CBS morning show anchor said in a video statement before he began in the job that he hopes to make an impact in contrast to mainstream media that aren’t serving the American public.

Dokoupil said that ‘all of a legacy media’ needs a change as viewers ‘do not trust us like they used to’.

‘I get it, I get it because I’ve been hearing about it from just about everybody for more than 20 years as I’ve traveled America on this assignment or that,’ he said. 

The interview comes after a tough first week with Dokoupil in the anchor chair that, while getting an initial ratings bump for CBS, have since dipped from its already last-place position

He cited everything from NAFTA to Hillary Clinton’s email scandal to the Russia hoax to Donald Trump’s ‘fitness for office’ as stories Americans cite having problems with. 

‘On too many stories, the press has missed the story. Because we’ve taken into account the perspective of advocates and not the average American. Or we put too much weight in the analysis of academics or elites, and not enough on you,’ Dokoupil said.

He added that ‘I have been you’ and felt his own frustrations were not reflected in news coverage. 

Liberals and conservatives jumped on the two-minute clip and criticized Dokoupil’s rhetoric, with the left jumping on the notion of ignoring ‘average Americans’ for so-called ‘experts’.

Dokoupil’s first scheduled descended into chaos when producers projected images onto the screen which did not appear to match his teleprompter. 

He became flustered and admitted he was already having ‘big problems’ on air, before regaining his composure and improvising with the photographs being shown. 

The broadcast went viral for all the wrong reasons, as media executives, journalists and viewers ridiculed the segment, branding it an ’embarrassing’ display of ‘complete and utter incompetence’.  

Days later, CBS News fired a top producer after staffers raged at Weiss and Dokoupil’s takeover. 

Dokoupil was the first major hire of former New York Times opinion editor Bari Weiss (pictured) as the news division’s editor-in-chief as the anti-woke Free Press founder tries to rebuild the network

Javier Guzman, a senior broadcast producer who had been with the show nearly a decade, was dismissed over disagreements with executive producer Kim Harvey, The Wrap reported. 

Guzman’s firing reportedly left staffers ‘in tears’ as a source called him a ‘highly respected guy’ in the room.

He had been promoted to his position just this past August, predating Bari Weiss ‘anti-woke’ takeover of the network’s news division at the behest of new owner David Ellison. 

The Guardian reported that it was initially ‘unclear what the rationale’ for firing Guzman was and that it led to ‘confusion in the newsroom.’ 

But the changes in the network have some staffers skeptical of CBS’s direction, with one insider telling independent journalist Oliver Darcy of Status News that the company is a ‘total disaster.’ 

Darcy said that multiple insiders painted a picture at CBS where the network was ‘led by unserious people who are hellbent on taking it into far friendlier waters for the Trump administration.’ 

CBS News historically leaned left, with a 2014 Pew Research survey finding that over half of the network’s viewers identified as ‘consistently liberal.’ 

However, the network has appeared to move right under new leadership, with Dokoupil reportedly a part of the transition. 

He anchored Tuesday’s broadcast from Miami and devoted time to spotlighting Rubio, calling the secretary the ‘ultimate Florida man.’ 

‘Marco Rubio, we salute you,’ Dokoupil added. 

Darcy called the portfolio on Rubio ‘a glowing tribute’ and an ‘extraordinary editorial decision.’ 

As the newly installed evening anchor, Dokoupil has launched a segment called Live from America. 

The tour includes 10 stops in cities across the US to connect with viewers outside of the media hubs in New York and Washington DC. 

CBS News leased a private jet for the tour, according to the Los Angeles Times. However, the plan was delayed due to the invasion of Venezuela.  

Insiders told Darcy that Dokoupil’s Live from America tour was ‘deeply inauthentic’ in light of the anchor’s introductory statement, which railed against the mainstream media for catering to ‘academics or elites.’ 

Dokoupil has made it clear that patriotism is one of his values. He unveiled five principles to guide his broadcast, which included: ‘We love America.’ 

His other four principles were, ‘We work for you,’ ‘We report on the world as it is,’ ‘We respect you,’ and ‘We respect tradition.’