CBS News Heavily Edits Donald Trump's 60 Minutes Interview, Omitting Claim About Broadcaster Compensating Him Substantial Funds

This broadcast network program 60 Minutes significantly trimmed an interview featuring the former president that aired on Sunday evening, representing the initial sit-down on the show in five years.

Trump spoke with correspondent Norah O’Donnell over an hour and a half, but only about 28 minutes aired on television. A complete text version of the interview was later released, alongside a 73-minute online version from the interview.

These cuts stand out because, exactly one year before Trump's interview with O’Donnell at his Mar-a-Lago resort, he had sued CBS over post-production changes of a 60 Minutes interview featuring the vice president, which he alleged was manipulated to benefit her campaign in the presidential election.

Although numerous attorneys largely rejected the legal action calling it baseless and unlikely to succeed under the first amendment, the broadcaster reached an agreement with Trump for $16m in July. As part of the settlement, the network had agreed to publish full records of future interviews of presidential candidates.

During the opening of the broadcast, the correspondent reminded viewers that Paramount settled Trump’s lawsuit, but noted that “the settlement lacked any admission or admission of wrongdoing”.

In the conversation, in a clip that did not air, the president needled the network over the settlement restating his allegations toward the broadcaster.

“In fact the program gave me a substantial sum. You need not put this on, since I do not wish to embarrass you, and I’m sure you’re not,” Trump said. “However the show had to compensate me a large amount because they took her answer from the segment which was damaging, it proved election-changing, two nights prior to voting. And they put a different response into the broadcast. And they paid me handsomely for that. We cannot tolerate false reporting. We must have truthful journalism. And I think this is occurring.”

In a separate segment not broadcast of the interview, Trump commended the acquisition of CBS to new owners noting the broadcaster's recently appointed head, Bari Weiss, is a “great new leader”.

The US president said he didn’t know the editor, but told the interviewer: “I hear she is impressive.

“I think you have a talented director, honestly, who’s the young woman that’s leading your entire organization, is superb – based on what I've heard,” he remarked.

The president was particularly effusive in complimenting David Ellison and his father, Larry Ellison, the recent purchaser of CBS News’ parent company, Paramount, via their firm Skydance Media.

“I think one of the best things recently involves this program and the change in ownership, the network and new ownership,” Trump said. “I believe it is a major improvement that has occurred for years toward a transparent and reliable media.”

O’Donnell did not directly respond regarding these remarks about Weiss and the Ellisons.

Included in the president's responses which were cut were several comments doubting the legitimacy of the last election, which he said “had been manipulated and unlawfully taken”.

At one point in the interview, in a part omitted from the broadcast, the president attempted to persuade O’Donnell to admit that crime was down in the capital, her place of residence.

“You live here. You know that too,” Trump remarked, inquiring of O’Donnell: “Do you see a difference?”

“I think I have been occupied excessively,” O’Donnell responded. “I have not gotten out and about often … I drive and go to work and return home.”

The president responded “that is an evasion” and insisted that the journalist had observed a difference.

Trump then implied that the back-and-forth need not be included on the show.

“It is unnecessary to use that one,” he noted. “Don’t worry, it's fine, I don’t want to embarrass her.”