The CBS Evening News Tony Dokoupil Trump Interview 2026: Chaos and Confrontation

Shouting over the mechanical roar of a Ford factory, Tony Dokoupil pressed Donald Trump on matters of life and death. The new anchor of CBS Evening News faced a trial by fire during a chaotic, high-stakes interview in Dearborn, Michigan.

CBS Evening News Tony Dokoupil Trump Interview: A Noisy Showdown

On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Dokoupil’s interview with Trump aired in an unconventional setting. Clad in heavy coats on the factory floor, the two bypassed discussions about automotive manufacturing to address reports of Iran hanging protesters. Dokoupil challenged the President on his previous commitments to intervene in such humanitarian crises.

"I haven't heard about the hanging," Trump stated, claiming that some of the information presented by Dokoupil was news to him. However, he maintained that the U.S. would take "very strong action" if the reports were confirmed. When pressed on the ultimate objective of such action, Trump’s response was characteristically blunt: "To win," because "I like winning."

Navigating the Bari Weiss Era at CBS

This broadcast marks a rocky start for Dokoupil, who took the anchor chair just one week ago. The show’s evolution follows the controversial October takeover of the news division by Bari Weiss. Dokoupil has positioned himself as an advocate for the viewer, vowing to hold public figures to rigorous standards regardless of corporate or political interests.