The Network Significantly Trims Donald Trump's TV Program Sit-Down, Omitting Boast About Broadcaster Compensating Him Substantial Money

The broadcast network program 60 Minutes heavily edited an interview with the former president that aired Sunday night, representing his first one-on-one with the program since 2019.

Trump spoke alongside journalist the CBS anchor for 90 minutes, but only approximately 28 minutes were broadcast. The full transcript from the discussion subsequently published, alongside a 73-minute online version of the conversation.

These cuts stand out because, exactly one year prior to Trump's interview on the program in Florida, he filed suit against the network over the editing from another news program interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, claiming it was deceptively edited to help her campaign in the presidential election.

While many legal experts largely rejected the lawsuit calling it baseless and improbable to hold up under the first amendment, the broadcaster reached an agreement with Trump for millions in July. Under the agreement, CBS committed to publish transcripts of future interviews with candidates.

During the opening of the broadcast, O’Donnell reminded viewers that the parent company resolved Trump’s lawsuit, adding that the resolution did not include any admission or expression of regret”.

In the conversation, in a clip that did not air, Trump teased CBS about the agreement and repeated his claims against the network.

“Actually the program paid me a substantial sum. You need not include this, since I do not wish to embarrass you, and I’m sure that you are not,” the president stated. “But the show was forced to pay me a large amount since they removed her answer out which was damaging, it was election-changing, 48 hours before the election. And they put a different response into the broadcast. And they paid me handsomely because of it. You can’t have fake news. We must have legit news. And I think this is occurring.”

In a separate segment not broadcast from the discussion, Trump praised the sale of the network to new owners and said the broadcaster's recently appointed head, Bari Weiss, is a “excellent addition”.

Trump admitted he was not acquainted with the editor, but told the interviewer: “People say she is impressive.

“In my view you have a talented director, honestly, that individual now heading your whole enterprise, is a great – based on what I've heard,” he remarked.

The president was particularly enthusiastic in praising the executive and his parent, Larry Ellison, the recent purchaser of the network's parent firm, Paramount Global, via their firm Skydance.

“I think a very positive development to happen involves this program and new ownership, CBS and new ownership,” Trump commented. “I believe it is a major improvement that’s happened in a long time toward a transparent and reliable media.”

O’Donnell offered no direct reply regarding these remarks concerning the editor and the owners.

Included in Trump’s many answers which were cut were several comments questioning the integrity of the last election, which he described “had been manipulated and unlawfully taken”.

During one exchange in the conversation, in a part omitted from the broadcast, Trump attempted to persuade O’Donnell to admit that crime was down in the capital, her place of residence.

“You reside in DC. You know that too,” Trump remarked, inquiring of the correspondent: “Have you noticed any change?”

“I believe I’ve been working too hard,” she replied. “I haven’t been outside that much … I drive to the studio and return home.”

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

The president then implied that the back-and-forth didn’t need to be aired on the show.

“You don’t have to use that one,” he said. “No concerns, don’t worry, I don’t want to cause her embarrassment.”