A CBS News camera operator experienced a medical emergency on-air, which disrupted the network’s live coverage of President Trump’s visit to China.
The unexpected interruption occurred during the initial evening of broadcasting Trump’s journey to Beijing.
Anchor Tony Dokoupil was steering the coverage when unsettling sounds emerged from behind the camera.
In a spontaneous reaction, Dokoupil stated, “Is he okay? We’re going to take a quick break; we have a medical emergency here, and we’re calling a doctor.”
Dokoupil is currently reporting on Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Taipei, following his inability to secure a Chinese visa.
A source informed Semafor that during a planning session on Wednesday, the decision was made for Dokoupil to broadcast from Taiwan’s capital.
Another insider told Semafor that CBS had two correspondents who would be traveling with Trump to China.
They said that Dokoupil being in Taipei highlighted how important the island is to the summit.
Dokoupil said him being in Taiwan was the first time that CBS had ever reported from the island, just 100 miles off the coast of China
Trump is seen here arriving into Beijing on Wednesday where he is to meet with President Xi Jinping
Starting his coverage, Dokoupil said him being in Taiwan was the first time that CBS had ever reported from the island, just 100 miles off the coast of China.
He also highlighted how White House Correspondent Weijia Jiang and Anna Coren, the broadcasters Hong Kong correspondent, were both in Beijing.
In contrast, NBC News’ Tom Llamas will be anchoring their coverage from Beijing, with ABC’s David Muir also to be posted up in the Chinese capital.
The setback for the broadcaster comes after the Evening News shot hit a new low one month after suffering its worst viewing figures in a century.
Last month, Dokoupil’s evening show recorded the lowest engagement statistics since he took over the broadcast, averaging just 3.7 million views per night, according to Nielsen data obtained by Status.
In the coveted 25-54 age demographic, which Weiss has been keen to attract, the show averaged only 467,000 people tuning in.
Dokopil’s broadcast has now posted 12 weeks in a row below 600,000 viewers in this demographic, showing that millennials and Generation X alike are turning away.
Through 2026 as a whole, CBS Evening News has been reeling in an average 4.3 million viewers per night, down seven percent from last year and marking the lowest ratings this century.
Weiss elevated CBS Mornings host Dokoupil, 54, to the Evening News anchor chair position in early January, right around where the ratings start.
One television executive told Status that CBS News is a ‘sinking ship.’
‘It’s clear they have no idea what they are doing – and one has to wonder what will be left of CBS News once the merger goes through and the Ellisons are done having to placate [Donald] Trump,’ they added.
By contrast to Dokoupil’s show, major competitors including ABC’s David Muir and NBC Nightly News’ Tom Llamas are commanding almost double the viewership.
Fox News’ Bret Baier is pictured here as he led Fox coverage from Beijing
Kristen Holmes, CNN’s Senior White House Correspondent, is pictured here broadcasting from the Chinese capital
Muir is currently drawing in 8.7 million total viewers, including 1.1 million audience members in the 25-54 age bracket, making his evening show the most popular.
‘CBS has now become a NASCAR event with people just watching to see the cars crash – Bari Weiss has effectively removed all value from the once-enviable brand,’ one industry insider told the Daily Mail in March.
‘Given CBS Sports is seeing record highs – there’s no question the ratings problem at CBS is entirely Bari’s making.’
Weiss, a former New York Times writer and Free Press founder, who is a fierce critic of modern legacy media, has never headed a major newsroom.
