CBS News Heavily Edits Donald Trump's TV Program Sit-Down, Removing Boast Regarding Network Paying The President Large Money

This broadcast network show the long-running news magazine significantly edited an interview featuring the former president that aired Sunday night, 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, but only about half an hour aired on television. The full text version from the discussion was later published, together with an extended online version from the interview.

The edits are notable since, precisely 12 months prior to Trump's interview on the program in Florida, he filed suit against CBS regarding the editing from another 60 Minutes interview with then-Vice President the vice president, which he alleged was deceptively edited to help her chances during the race.

Although numerous legal experts widely dismissed the legal action calling it baseless and improbable to succeed on free speech grounds, the broadcaster reached an agreement with Trump for millions this past summer. As part of the agreement, the network committed that it would release full records from upcoming discussions with candidates.

During the opening of the broadcast, the correspondent informed the audience that the parent company settled Trump’s lawsuit, but noted that the resolution did not include any admission or expression of regret”.

During the interview, in a clip omitted from broadcast, the president needled the network about the agreement restating his allegations toward the broadcaster.

“In fact the program gave me a lotta money. You need not put this on, since I do not wish to embarrass you, and I’m sure you’re not,” Trump said. “However the show was forced to compensate me a large amount since they removed her answer from the segment that was so bad, it was decisive, two nights before the election. And they put a new answer into the broadcast. And they paid me a lot of money for that. We cannot tolerate false reporting. We must have legit news. And I think this is occurring.”

In a separate segment not broadcast of the interview, the president praised the sale of CBS to new owners and said the network’s recently appointed head, Bari Weiss, is a “excellent addition”.

The US president admitted he was not acquainted with Weiss, but told O’Donnell: “I hear she is impressive.

“I think you have a great new leader, honestly, who’s the young woman that’s leading your entire organization, is superb – from what I know,” he remarked.

The president was particularly enthusiastic in complimenting the executive and his parent, Larry Ellison, the new owner of CBS News’ parent company, Paramount, via their firm Skydance Media.

“In my opinion a very positive development to happen involves this program and the change in ownership, the network and new ownership,” the president commented. “I think it is a major improvement that’s happened in a long time to a free and open and good press.”

O’Donnell offered no direct reply to the president’s comments about Weiss and the Ellisons.

Included in the president's responses which were cut were several comments questioning the integrity of the 2020 presidential election, which he described “had been manipulated and stolen”.

At one point in the conversation, in a part that was not aired, Trump tried to get the journalist to admit that safety had improved in the capital, where she lives.

“You reside in DC. You are aware of this,” Trump remarked, inquiring of O’Donnell: “Do you see a difference?”

“I believe I’ve been working too hard,” O’Donnell replied. “I haven’t been outside that much … I get in my car to the studio and return home.”

Trump responded “that’s not a fair answer” maintaining that the journalist noticed a difference.

Trump then implied that the back-and-forth didn’t need to be aired in the program.

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