The Network Heavily Edits Donald Trump's 60 Minutes Sit-Down, Omitting Claim About Network Compensating Him Substantial Money
The CBS News program the long-running news magazine significantly trimmed an interview featuring the former president broadcast on Sunday evening, marking his first one-on-one with the program since 2019.
The former president sat down with correspondent Norah O’Donnell for 90 minutes, but only approximately half an hour were broadcast. A complete transcript from the discussion subsequently published, together with an extended digital cut from the interview.
The edits are notable since, exactly one year before Trump's appearance on the program in Florida, he filed suit against the network regarding post-production changes from another 60 Minutes segment featuring Kamala Harris, claiming it was deceptively edited to benefit her chances during the race.
Although many attorneys widely dismissed the lawsuit calling it baseless and unlikely to succeed under the first amendment, the broadcaster settled with the president for millions this past summer. As part of the settlement, the network committed that it would publish transcripts of future interviews of presidential candidates.
During the opening of Sunday’s show, O’Donnell reminded viewers that the parent company settled the legal dispute, adding that the resolution lacked an apology or expression of regret”.
During the interview, in one segment that did not air, Trump needled CBS over the settlement and repeated his claims toward the broadcaster.
“In fact the program paid me a lotta money. And you don’t have to put this on, because I don’t wanna embarrass you, and I’m sure that you are not,” the president said. “But 60 Minutes was forced to compensate me a large amount because they removed her answer out which was damaging, it proved decisive, 48 hours before the election. They inserted a new answer into the broadcast. And they paid me a lot of money because of it. We cannot tolerate fake news. You’ve gotta have truthful journalism. I believe this is occurring.”
During another segment not broadcast from the discussion, the president commended the sale of the network to the Ellison family noting the broadcaster's recently appointed head, the journalist, is a “great new leader”.
The US president admitted he was not acquainted with the editor, yet informed the interviewer: “People say she is impressive.
“I think you've acquired a talented director, frankly, that individual now heading your entire organization, is a great – from what I know,” he said.
Trump was particularly effusive in praising the executive and his parent, Larry, the recent purchaser of the network's parent firm, Paramount Global, through their company Skydance Media.
“I think a very positive development to happen involves this program and new ownership, CBS under new management,” Trump said. “I think it is a major improvement that has occurred for years toward a transparent and good press.”
O’Donnell offered no direct reply to the president’s comments about Weiss and the Ellisons.
Included in Trump’s many answers which were cut were multiple statements doubting the integrity of the 2020 presidential election, which he said “had been manipulated and unlawfully taken”.
At one point in the interview, in a segment that was not aired, Trump attempted to persuade O’Donnell to acknowledge that crime was down in Washington DC, where she lives.
“You live here. You are aware of this,” Trump said, asking the correspondent: “Have you noticed any change?”
“I think I have been occupied too hard,” O’Donnell replied. “I have not gotten out and about often … I drive and go to work and return home.”
Trump said “that is an evasion” and insisted that the journalist noticed an improvement.
Trump then implied that the exchange didn’t need to be aired in the program.
“You don’t have to include that part,” he noted. “Don’t worry, don’t worry, I don’t want to embarrass her.”
