CBS News Heavily Edits Donald Trump's 60 Minutes Sit-Down, Omitting Claim About Network Paying Him Substantial Funds

This broadcast network program the long-running news magazine heavily trimmed an interview featuring the former president broadcast on Sunday evening, marking his first sit-down with the program since 2019.

The former president spoke alongside journalist the CBS anchor over an hour and a half, but only approximately 28 minutes aired on television. The full transcript from the discussion subsequently published, alongside a 73-minute online version of the conversation.

The edits are notable because, precisely 12 months prior to the president's interview with O’Donnell in Florida, he filed suit against CBS over post-production changes of a news program interview featuring the vice president, claiming it was manipulated to help her campaign in the presidential election.

Although numerous legal experts largely rejected the legal action calling it baseless and unlikely to hold up on free speech grounds, the broadcaster settled with the president for millions this past summer. As part of the settlement, the network had agreed that it would publish transcripts of future interviews with candidates.

At the beginning of the broadcast, O’Donnell reminded viewers that Paramount settled Trump’s lawsuit, but noted that the resolution lacked an apology or expression of regret”.

During the interview, in one segment that did not air, Trump teased the network about the agreement restating his allegations against the network.

“In fact 60 Minutes gave me a lotta money. And you don’t have to include this, because I don’t wanna embarrass you, and I’m sure you’re not,” the president said. “But 60 Minutes had to pay me a lot of money because they removed Harris’s response out which was damaging, it was election-changing, two nights before the election. They inserted a new answer into the broadcast. They compensated me handsomely because of it. You can’t have false reporting. We must have legit news. And I think that it’s happening.”

In a separate un-aired portion from the discussion, the president commended the acquisition of the network to new owners and said the network’s recently appointed head, Bari Weiss, is a “excellent addition”.

The US president said he didn’t know Weiss, yet informed O’Donnell: “I hear she’s a great person.

“In my view you have a great new leader, frankly, that individual that’s leading your entire organization, is superb – based on what I've heard,” he remarked.

The president was particularly effusive in praising David Ellison and his parent, Larry, the new owner of the network's parent firm, Paramount Global, via their firm Skydance Media.

“In my opinion one of the best things recently involves this program and the change in ownership, the network under new management,” Trump said. “I believe it is a major improvement that has occurred in a long time to a free and open and reliable media.”

O’Donnell offered no direct reply to the president’s comments concerning the editor and the owners.

Among the president's responses that were edited out were several comments questioning the integrity of the last election, which he described “had been manipulated and unlawfully taken”.

At one point in the interview, in a part that was not aired, Trump attempted to persuade the journalist to admit that safety had improved in Washington DC, where she lives.

“You reside in DC. You are aware of this,” the president remarked, inquiring of the correspondent: “Do you see any change?”

“I think I have been occupied too hard,” she responded. “I have not gotten out and about often … I get in my car and go to work and return home.”

Trump responded “that’s not a fair answer” maintaining that O’Donnell noticed an improvement.

Trump then implied that the exchange need not to be aired on the show.

“It is unnecessary to include that part,” he said. “No concerns, it's fine, I do not wish to embarrass her.”