Moonves Clarifies "Trump Good For CBS" Comment

Les Moonves

Both Republicans and Democrats who aren't Donald Trump fans have criticized how much coverage the news media have given his campaign, particularly in the primaries, when they would air his campaign rallies in their entirety.

Many thought that CBS CEO Les Moonves confirmed that it was all about ratings and money when he infamously said at a Morgan Stanley conference in February of Trump's presidential run: "It may not be good for America, but it's damn good for CBS." Moonves tried to clarify his comment yesterday at the Vanity Fair New Establishment conference.

He said, "It was a joke! It was a joke!" and explained that it was in the context of a question about local political ad spending, not TV ratings.

According to Politico, he said, "It was early in the primaries, and I was at a business conference . . . The early days of Trump, where no one imagined him being where he is today."

He continued, "By [the 'good for CBS' comment], I meant there was going to be a lot of money in the marketplace. Ironically, because of Donald Trump not spending a lot of money [on campaign ads], more money has been spent on gubernatorial and local races."