The Network Significantly Trims Trump's TV Program Sit-Down, Omitting Claim Regarding Network Paying Him Large Money
This broadcast network show the long-running news magazine significantly edited an interview featuring Donald Trump broadcast Sunday night, representing his first one-on-one on the show in five years.
The former president spoke with correspondent the CBS anchor for 90 minutes, but only approximately half an hour aired on television. A complete text version from the discussion subsequently published, together with a 73-minute digital cut of the conversation.
These cuts stand out because, exactly one year before Trump's interview on the program at his Mar-a-Lago resort, he filed suit against the network regarding the editing of a 60 Minutes segment with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, claiming it was deceptively edited to benefit her chances during the race.
Although many legal experts largely rejected the lawsuit calling it baseless and unlikely to succeed under the first amendment, CBS reached an agreement with Trump for millions this past summer. As part of the settlement, CBS committed to publish full records of future interviews of presidential candidates.
At the beginning of Sunday’s show, the correspondent informed the audience that the parent company settled the legal dispute, but noted that the resolution did not include an apology or admission of wrongdoing”.
In the conversation, in a clip that did not air, Trump teased CBS over the settlement and repeated his claims toward the broadcaster.
“In fact 60 Minutes paid me a substantial sum. And you don’t have to include this, since I do not wish to cause you discomfort, and I’m sure that you are not,” Trump said. “However 60 Minutes had to compensate me a large amount since they took Harris’s response from the segment which was damaging, it proved election-changing, two nights before the election. And they put a new answer in. And they paid me a lot of money for that. You can’t have fake news. You’ve gotta have legit news. I believe that it’s happening.”
In a separate un-aired portion from the discussion, the president praised the acquisition of the network to new owners noting the broadcaster's new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, was a “excellent addition”.
Trump admitted he was not acquainted with Weiss, yet informed O’Donnell: “People say she is impressive.
“I think you've acquired a great new leader, honestly, that individual now heading your whole enterprise, is superb – from what I know,” he said.
Trump was particularly enthusiastic in praising David Ellison and his parent, Larry Ellison, the new owner of the network's parent firm, Paramount, through their company Skydance Media.
“In my opinion a very positive development recently involves this program and the change in ownership, the network under new management,” Trump commented. “I believe it is a major improvement that’s happened for years to a free and open and reliable media.”
The correspondent did not directly respond regarding these remarks concerning the editor and the owners.
Among the president's responses which were cut were multiple statements doubting the integrity of the 2020 presidential election, which he said “was rigged and stolen”.
At one point in the interview, in a segment omitted from the broadcast, Trump attempted to persuade O’Donnell to acknowledge that safety had improved in Washington DC, where she lives.
“You reside in DC. You are aware of this,” Trump said, asking the correspondent: “Have you noticed any change?”
“I believe I’ve been working too hard,” she replied. “I have not gotten out and about that much … I drive to the studio and I go home.”
Trump said “that is an evasion” and insisted that O’Donnell noticed a difference.
The president then seemed to suggest that the exchange didn’t need be included in the program.
“It is unnecessary to include that part,” he said. “Don’t worry, don’t worry, I don’t want to cause her embarrassment.”
