The Network Heavily Edits Donald Trump's TV Program Sit-Down, Omitting Claim About Broadcaster Paying The President Large Funds
This broadcast network program 60 Minutes heavily trimmed a conversation featuring the former president that aired on Sunday evening, representing his first sit-down on the show since 2019.
The former president sat down alongside journalist the CBS anchor for 90 minutes, yet merely about half an hour were broadcast. A complete transcript from the discussion was later released, alongside a 73-minute digital cut of the conversation.
The edits stand out because, precisely 12 months prior to the president's interview with O’Donnell at his Mar-a-Lago resort, he filed suit against the network regarding the editing from another 60 Minutes segment featuring Kamala Harris, claiming it had been manipulated to help her chances in the presidential election.
While numerous attorneys widely dismissed the legal action as “meritless” and improbable to hold up under the first amendment, the broadcaster settled with Trump for millions this past summer. Under the agreement, CBS committed to release transcripts from upcoming discussions of presidential candidates.
During the opening of Sunday’s show, the correspondent reminded viewers that the parent company settled the legal dispute, but noted that “the settlement lacked any admission or expression of regret”.
In the conversation, in one segment omitted from broadcast, the president teased CBS over the settlement restating his claims toward the broadcaster.
“Actually 60 Minutes paid me a lotta money. You need not put this on, because I don’t wanna cause you discomfort, and I’m sure that you are not,” Trump stated. “However 60 Minutes had to pay me a lot of money since they removed Harris’s response from the segment that was so bad, it proved decisive, two nights before the election. And they put a new answer into the broadcast. And they paid me a lot of money because of it. You can’t have false reporting. We must have truthful journalism. I believe that it’s happening.”
During another segment not broadcast of the interview, Trump praised the acquisition of the network to the Ellison family and said the network’s recently appointed head, the journalist, was a “great new leader”.
Trump admitted he was not acquainted with the editor, but told O’Donnell: “People say she’s a great person.
“I think you've acquired a talented director, honestly, who’s the young woman now heading your entire organization, is a great – from what I know,” he remarked.
Trump was particularly effusive in praising David Ellison and his parent, Larry, the recent purchaser of the network's parent firm, Paramount, through their company Skydance Media.
“In my opinion one of the best things to happen involves this program and new ownership, CBS under new management,” the president said. “I believe it is a major improvement that’s happened in a long time toward a transparent and reliable media.”
The correspondent did not directly respond to the president’s comments concerning the editor and the owners.
Among Trump’s many answers which were cut were several comments doubting the integrity of the last 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 safety had improved in Washington DC, her place of residence.
“You reside in DC. You are aware of this,” the president said, inquiring of O’Donnell: “Have you noticed any change?”
“I believe I have been occupied too hard,” O’Donnell responded. “I haven’t been out and about that much … I get in my car and go to work and return home.”
The president said “that’s not a fair answer” and insisted that the journalist noticed a difference.
The president then seemed to suggest that the exchange didn’t need to be aired in the program.
“It is unnecessary to include that part,” he noted. “Don’t worry, it's fine, I don’t want to embarrass her.”