CBS News Hire of Former Cheney Aide Sparks Outrage from Trump Admin

The White House is furious over CBS News' decision to add a new communications executive who previously worked for Rep. Liz Cheney.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 7:50pm

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The White House expressed outrage after CBS News hired Jeremy Adler, a former deputy chief of staff and senior communications adviser for Rep. Liz Cheney, to join the network's communications team. Cheney was a vocal critic of former President Trump and led the House's investigation into the January 6th Capitol siege. The Trump administration condemned the hire, with a White House official calling it "insanity" and questioning what CBS News president Bari Weiss was "thinking." The relationship between the White House and CBS News has been tense, with the network facing scrutiny and pressure from the Trump administration over its editorial decisions and coverage.

Why it matters

This hiring decision highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and mainstream media outlets like CBS News, which have faced increasing pressure and criticism from the White House over their coverage and perceived political leanings. The addition of a former Cheney aide is seen as a direct affront to the Trump team, underscoring the deep partisan divides in the media landscape.

The details

Jeremy Adler worked for Rep. Liz Cheney, one of President Trump's biggest critics, from 2019 to 2023, serving as her deputy chief of staff and senior communications adviser. Cheney led the House's investigation into the January 6th Capitol siege, which further strained her relationship with the Trump administration. The White House official who spoke to Axios accused Adler of "work[ing] to jail President Trump" and making "it impossible for anybody who supported the president to get hired." CBS News and its president, Bari Weiss, have faced increasing scrutiny and tension from the Trump administration over the network's editorial decisions and coverage of White House policies.

  • On March 12, 2026, the White House expressed outrage over CBS News' decision to hire Jeremy Adler.

The players

Jeremy Adler

A former deputy chief of staff and senior communications adviser for Rep. Liz Cheney, who is joining the communications team at CBS News.

Liz Cheney

A Republican Congresswoman from Wyoming who was a vocal critic of former President Trump and led the House's investigation into the January 6th Capitol siege.

Bari Weiss

The president of CBS News, who has been at the center of the tensions between the network and the Trump administration.

The White House

The administration of former President Donald Trump, which expressed outrage over CBS News' decision to hire Jeremy Adler.

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What they’re saying

“The idea CBS would hire Liz Cheney's flack who has worked to jail President Trump and make it impossible for anybody who supported the president to get hired is insanity. What the hell is Bari Weiss thinking?”

— White House official (Axios)

The takeaway

This hiring decision by CBS News underscores the deep partisan divisions and ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and mainstream media outlets, which have faced increasing pressure and scrutiny over their coverage and perceived political leanings. The addition of a former Cheney aide is seen as a direct challenge to the Trump team, further exacerbating the conflict between the White House and the media.