The Network Significantly Trims Trump's 60 Minutes Interview, Removing Boast About Network Paying The President Substantial Funds

The broadcast network show the long-running news magazine heavily edited a conversation featuring the former president broadcast on Sunday evening, representing his first sit-down on the show since 2019.

The former president spoke alongside journalist Norah O’Donnell over an hour and a half, yet merely about half an hour were broadcast. The full text version of the interview was later published, alongside an extended digital cut from the interview.

The edits are notable since, precisely 12 months before the president's appearance on the program in Florida, he had sued the network regarding the editing of a 60 Minutes interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, which he alleged had been manipulated to help her campaign during the race.

While many attorneys widely dismissed the legal action as “meritless” and unlikely to hold up under the first amendment, CBS settled with Trump for millions this past summer. Under the agreement, the network had agreed to publish transcripts of future interviews of presidential candidates.

During the opening of the broadcast, the correspondent informed the audience that Paramount resolved Trump’s lawsuit, but noted that “the settlement lacked an apology or expression of regret”.

During the interview, in a clip that did not air, the president needled the network about the agreement restating his claims toward the broadcaster.

“In fact the program gave me a substantial sum. You need not include this, because I don’t wanna cause you discomfort, and I’m sure you’re not,” the president stated. “But 60 Minutes had to pay me a large amount since they removed her answer out that was so bad, it proved election-changing, 48 hours before the election. They inserted a different response in. They compensated me a lot of money because of it. We cannot tolerate false reporting. You’ve gotta have truthful journalism. I believe this is occurring.”

In a separate un-aired portion of the interview, the president praised the sale of CBS to new owners noting the broadcaster's recently appointed head, Bari Weiss, was a “great new leader”.

Trump said he didn’t know Weiss, but told O’Donnell: “People say she is impressive.

“I think you have a talented director, frankly, that individual now heading your entire organization, is a great – from what I know,” he said.

Trump was especially effusive in complimenting David Ellison and his parent, Larry Ellison, the new owner of the network's parent firm, Paramount Global, through their company Skydance.

“I think a very positive development recently is this show and new ownership, the network and new ownership,” Trump commented. “I think it’s the greatest thing that has occurred in a long time to a free and open and good press.”

The correspondent did not directly respond regarding these remarks about Weiss and the owners.

Among the president's responses which were cut were several comments questioning the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election, which he said “had been manipulated and unlawfully taken”.

At one point in the interview, in a part that was not aired, Trump tried to get the journalist to admit that crime was down in the capital, her place of residence.

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

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

Trump responded “that’s not a fair answer” maintaining that the journalist had observed an improvement.

The president then seemed to suggest that the back-and-forth need not to be aired in the program.

“You don’t have to use that one,” he noted. “Don’t worry, it's fine, I do not wish to embarrass her.”