CBS News Heavily Edits Trump's 60 Minutes Sit-Down, Omitting Claim Regarding Network Compensating The President Substantial Money
The CBS News show 60 Minutes heavily trimmed an interview featuring the former president that aired Sunday night, marking the initial sit-down with the program in five years.
The former president sat down alongside journalist Norah OâDonnell over an hour and a half, yet merely approximately 28 minutes were broadcast. A complete transcript from the discussion subsequently published, together with a 73-minute digital cut from the interview.
The edits stand out because, precisely 12 months prior to Trump's interview with OâDonnell in Florida, he had sued CBS regarding post-production changes of a news program segment featuring the vice president, which he alleged was manipulated to benefit her campaign during the race.
While numerous legal experts widely dismissed the legal action as âmeritlessâ and unlikely to hold up under the first amendment, the broadcaster reached an agreement with Trump for millions this past summer. Under the agreement, the network committed to publish full records from upcoming discussions with candidates.
At the beginning of the broadcast, OâDonnell informed the audience that Paramount settled the legal dispute, adding that the resolution lacked any admission or admission of wrongdoingâ.
During the interview, in a clip that did not air, the president teased the network about the agreement and repeated his claims against the network.
âIn fact 60 Minutes gave me a substantial sum. And you donât have to include this, since I do not wish to cause you discomfort, and I trust that you are not,â the president said. âBut the show had to compensate me a large amount since they removed Harrisâs response from the segment that was so bad, it proved decisive, two nights prior to voting. And they put a new answer into the broadcast. They compensated me a lot of money because of it. We cannot tolerate fake news. We must have truthful journalism. And I think this is occurring.â
In a separate segment not broadcast of the interview, Trump praised the acquisition of the network to new owners noting the networkâs new editor-in-chief, the journalist, is a âexcellent additionâ.
The US president admitted he was not acquainted with Weiss, but told the interviewer: âPeople say sheâs a great person.
âI think you have a talented director, honestly, that individual now heading your whole enterprise, is superb â from what I know,â he remarked.
The president was particularly enthusiastic in praising the executive and his parent, Larry, the new owner of the network's parent firm, Paramount, via their firm Skydance.
âI think one of the best things recently involves this program and the change in ownership, the network and new ownership,â Trump commented. âI think it is a major improvement that has occurred in a long time to a free and open and reliable media.â
The correspondent offered no direct reply to the presidentâs comments about Weiss and the owners.
Included in the president's responses that were edited out were multiple statements doubting the integrity of the last election, which he said âwas rigged and stolenâ.
During one exchange in the conversation, in a part that was not aired, Trump tried to get the journalist to acknowledge that safety had improved in Washington DC, her place of residence.
âYou reside in DC. You are aware of this,â the president remarked, inquiring of OâDonnell: âHave you noticed any change?â
âI think Iâve been working excessively,â she replied. âI have not gotten outside often ⌠I get in my car and go to work and I go home.â
The president said âthat is an evasionâ maintaining that the journalist had observed a difference.
Trump then seemed to suggest that the exchange need not to be aired in the program.
âYou donât have to include that part,â he noted. âNo concerns, donât worry, I donât want to cause her embarrassment.â
