CBS News Significantly Trims Trump's 60 Minutes Interview, Removing Claim Regarding Network Compensating The President Substantial Funds
This broadcast network show 60 Minutes heavily trimmed a conversation with the former president that aired on Sunday evening, representing the initial sit-down on the show in five years.
The former president spoke alongside journalist Norah O’Donnell over an hour and a half, yet merely approximately 28 minutes aired on television. The full transcript from the discussion subsequently released, alongside a 73-minute online version from the interview.
These cuts stand out because, exactly one year prior to the president's interview on the program in Florida, he filed suit against CBS regarding the editing from another 60 Minutes interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, which he alleged had been manipulated to benefit her chances in the presidential election.
While many attorneys widely dismissed the legal action as “meritless” and improbable to hold up on free speech grounds, CBS settled with Trump for millions this past summer. As part of the settlement, CBS committed to publish transcripts from upcoming discussions of presidential candidates.
During the opening of Sunday’s show, O’Donnell reminded viewers that the parent company settled Trump’s lawsuit, adding that the resolution did not include an apology or expression of regret”.
During the interview, in one segment omitted from broadcast, the president teased the network about the agreement restating his allegations toward the broadcaster.
“In fact the program paid me a substantial sum. You need not put this on, since I do not wish to embarrass you, and I’m sure that you are not,” the president said. “However the show was forced to compensate me a lot of money since they took her answer out which was damaging, it proved decisive, 48 hours before the election. And they put a new answer into the broadcast. And they paid me handsomely for that. We cannot tolerate fake news. You’ve gotta have legit news. I believe that it’s happening.”
In a separate segment not broadcast of the interview, Trump praised the acquisition of CBS to new owners and said the network’s recently appointed head, the journalist, was a “great new leader”.
The US president admitted he was not acquainted with the editor, yet informed the interviewer: “People say she’s a great person.
“In my view you've acquired a talented director, frankly, that individual now heading your whole enterprise, is a great – based on what I've heard,” he said.
The president was particularly effusive in complimenting David Ellison and his parent, Larry, the recent purchaser of CBS News’ parent company, Paramount, through their company Skydance Media.
“In my opinion one of the best things to happen is this show and the change in ownership, CBS under new management,” the president said. “I think it is a major improvement that has occurred for years toward a transparent and good press.”
The correspondent did not directly respond to the president’s comments about Weiss and the Ellisons.
Among the president's responses which were cut were several comments questioning the integrity of the 2020 presidential election, which he said “was rigged and unlawfully taken”.
During one exchange in the interview, in a part that was not aired, the president tried to get the journalist to admit that safety had improved in the capital, where she lives.
“You live here. You are aware of this,” Trump said, inquiring of the correspondent: “Have you noticed a difference?”
“I believe I have been occupied excessively,” O’Donnell responded. “I haven’t been outside that much … I get in my car to the studio and I go home.”
Trump said “that is an evasion” and insisted that O’Donnell noticed an improvement.
Trump then implied that the back-and-forth didn’t need to be aired on the show.
“It is unnecessary to use that one,” he said. “Don’t worry, it's fine, I don’t want to cause her embarrassment.”