“CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King sparked controversy after questioning why there weren’t “many people of color” during President Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony on Monday.
The anchor made the remark while offering commentary on the swearing-in ceremony as politicians, Supreme Court judges and dignitaries filtered into the US Capitol Rotunda.
“I do not see many people of color. Does anybody else besides me observe that?” King said. “I’m fascinated by why that is?”
Norah O’Donnell, who anchored the network’s coverage, then noted that the inauguration coincided with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day before listing off some prominent black leaders in attendance.
Megyn Kelly, the former Fox News primetime star, was among several critics who slammed King for her observation.
“Gayle King on cbs is questioning why there aren’t more “ppl of color” at the inauguration. Of course,” the host SiriusXM’s “The Megyn Kelly Show” wrote on X.
Aidan Kearney, a Trump-backing commentator, wrote: “The fact that this is the first thing you’re looking for is exactly why this guy is about to be inaugurated again.”
Tony Bruno, a former ESPN sports radio talk show host, wrote on X: “Watching your morning show (which very few do) what is the racial breakdown of your staff?”
Others, however, supported King’s point, noting that the audience was overwhelmingly white, including high-profile figures like tech billionaires Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk.
A spokesperson for CBS declined to comment.
Among the people of color present at the inauguration were former President Barack Obama, Vice President Kamala Harris, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Vice President JD Vance’s wife, Usha, also attended. Usha Vance is the daughter of Indian immigrants.
One person who decided to skip the event was Michelle Obama, fueling ongoing speculation about her views on Trump and recent rumors regarding her marriage to the 44th president.
Trump used his inaugural address to proclaim the beginning of a “new golden age of America.”
One of his first policy priorities is the dismantling of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs in federal institutions.
DEI remains a sensitive issue. Supporters claim it helps correct systemic discrimination against minorities while critics argue it results in discrimination against white and Asian Americans.
The kerfuffle over King’s comment comes as CBS parent company Paramount Global is reportedly considering settling a $10 billion lawsuit filed by Trump concerning a “60 Minutes” interview with Harris.
The lawsuit alleges that CBS aired selectively edited versions of the interview to favor Harris during the election.
This legal dispute poses a potential obstacle to Paramount’s planned $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), led by incoming Chairman Brendan Carr, has indicated that Trump’s grievances with CBS News could complicate the process.
