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

This CBS News program 60 Minutes significantly trimmed an interview featuring Donald Trump broadcast Sunday night, representing his first one-on-one with the program in five years.

Trump sat down alongside journalist Norah O’Donnell over an hour and a half, yet merely about half an hour aired on television. A complete text version from the discussion was later released, alongside a 73-minute online version of the conversation.

The edits stand out because, precisely 12 months prior to the president's appearance on the program in Florida, he filed suit against the network regarding the editing from another 60 Minutes interview featuring the vice president, claiming it was deceptively edited to benefit her chances during the race.

While numerous attorneys largely rejected the lawsuit calling it baseless and improbable to hold up on free speech grounds, CBS reached an agreement with Trump for $16m in July. As part of the agreement, CBS had agreed that it would publish transcripts from upcoming discussions 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 settlement lacked any admission or expression of regret”.

During the interview, in a clip omitted from broadcast, the president teased the network over the settlement restating his claims toward the broadcaster.

“Actually the program paid me a lotta money. You need not put this on, because I don’t wanna embarrass you, and I’m sure that you are not,” Trump stated. “However the show had to compensate me a large amount since they removed Harris’s response out which was damaging, it proved decisive, two nights before the election. They inserted a new answer into the broadcast. And they paid me a lot of money for that. We cannot tolerate false reporting. We must have truthful journalism. I believe this is occurring.”

During another un-aired portion of the interview, Trump praised the sale of CBS to the Ellison family noting the network’s recently appointed head, Bari Weiss, 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.

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

Trump was particularly enthusiastic in praising David Ellison and his parent, Larry, the new owner of CBS News’ parent company, Paramount Global, via their firm Skydance.

“In my opinion one of the best things recently involves this program and new ownership, the network and new ownership,” the president said. “I think it is a major improvement that’s happened for years toward a transparent and reliable media.”

O’Donnell did not directly respond regarding these remarks concerning the editor and the Ellisons.

Included in Trump’s many answers which were cut were multiple statements doubting the integrity of the 2020 presidential election, which he described “had been manipulated and stolen”.

During one exchange in the conversation, in a part omitted from the broadcast, Trump attempted to persuade O’Donnell to admit that safety had improved in the capital, where she lives.

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

“I think I’ve been working too hard,” O’Donnell responded. “I haven’t been outside that much … I drive to the studio and I go home.”

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

The president then implied that the exchange didn’t need be included on the show.

“It is unnecessary to include that part,” he noted. “No concerns, it's fine, I don’t want to cause her embarrassment.”