The Network Significantly Trims Donald Trump's TV Program Interview, Omitting Boast About Network Paying The President Large Money

This broadcast network program 60 Minutes significantly edited an interview featuring Donald Trump that aired Sunday night, representing his first sit-down with the program in five years.

Trump sat down alongside journalist the CBS anchor over an hour and a half, but only approximately half an hour aired on television. A complete transcript of the interview subsequently released, alongside a 73-minute online version of the conversation.

These cuts stand out because, precisely 12 months before the president's interview with O’Donnell at his Mar-a-Lago resort, he had sued CBS over the editing of a 60 Minutes interview featuring Kamala Harris, which he alleged was manipulated to benefit her chances in the presidential election.

Although many attorneys largely rejected the lawsuit calling it baseless and improbable to succeed on free speech grounds, CBS settled with the president for millions in July. As part of the settlement, the network committed to release full records of future interviews with candidates.

During the opening of Sunday’s show, O’Donnell informed the audience that the parent company resolved Trump’s lawsuit, but noted that the resolution did not include any admission or expression of regret”.

In the conversation, in one segment omitted from broadcast, the president teased CBS about the agreement and repeated his claims toward the broadcaster.

“In fact 60 Minutes paid me a lotta money. You need not put this on, because I don’t wanna cause you discomfort, and I trust that you are not,” Trump said. “But 60 Minutes had to compensate me a large amount since they took her answer out that was so bad, it was election-changing, two nights prior to voting. And they put a new answer in. They compensated me a lot of money for that. We cannot tolerate false reporting. We must have legit news. I believe that it’s happening.”

In a separate segment not broadcast of the interview, Trump commended the sale of the network to new owners noting the network’s recently appointed head, the journalist, was a “excellent addition”.

Trump admitted he was not acquainted with Weiss, yet informed the interviewer: “People say she is impressive.

“In my view you have a talented director, frankly, that individual that’s leading your entire organization, is a great – from what I know,” he remarked.

The president was particularly enthusiastic in praising the executive and his father, Larry Ellison, the recent purchaser of CBS News’ parent company, Paramount Global, through their company Skydance Media.

“I think one of the best things recently involves this program and new ownership, the network and new ownership,” Trump commented. “I believe it’s the greatest thing that has occurred for years toward a transparent and good press.”

O’Donnell did not directly respond to the president’s comments concerning the editor and the Ellisons.

Among Trump’s many answers that were edited out were multiple statements doubting the integrity of the 2020 presidential election, which he said “had been manipulated and unlawfully taken”.

During one exchange in the conversation, in a segment omitted from the broadcast, the president attempted to persuade the journalist to admit that crime was down in Washington DC, her place of residence.

“You reside in DC. You know that too,” Trump remarked, asking the correspondent: “Have you noticed a difference?”

“I think I have been occupied excessively,” she responded. “I haven’t been out and about that much … I drive to the studio and I go home.”

The president said “that’s not a fair answer” maintaining that the journalist had observed a difference.

Trump then seemed to suggest that the back-and-forth didn’t need to be aired on the show.

“You don’t have to use that one,” he said. “Don’t worry, don’t worry, I don’t want to cause her embarrassment.”