This CBS News show 60 Minutes heavily edited a conversation with Donald Trump broadcast on Sunday evening, marking his first one-on-one on the show in five years.
Trump sat down alongside journalist the CBS anchor for 90 minutes, but only about half an hour aired on television. A complete transcript of the interview was later published, alongside a 73-minute online version from the interview.
The edits are notable because, exactly one year prior to the president's interview with O’Donnell in Florida, he had sued the network regarding the editing from another news program segment with then-Vice President the vice president, claiming it was deceptively edited to benefit her campaign during the race.
Although many attorneys widely dismissed the legal action calling it baseless and improbable to succeed under the first amendment, CBS reached an agreement with the president for $16m this past summer. Under the settlement, CBS committed to publish transcripts of future interviews with candidates.
During the opening of the broadcast, the correspondent reminded viewers that Paramount settled the legal dispute, adding that “the settlement lacked any admission or admission of wrongdoing”.
During the interview, in one segment that did not air, Trump needled CBS about the agreement and repeated his allegations against the network.
“In fact 60 Minutes paid me a substantial sum. You need not put this on, because I don’t wanna embarrass you, and I’m sure you’re not,” Trump said. “However 60 Minutes was forced to pay me a large amount because they removed her answer from the segment which was damaging, it was election-changing, 48 hours prior to voting. And they put a different response into the broadcast. And they paid me a lot of money for that. You can’t have false reporting. You’ve gotta have legit news. I believe that it’s happening.”
During another segment not broadcast of the interview, Trump praised the sale of CBS to new owners noting the network’s new editor-in-chief, the journalist, is a “excellent addition”.
The US president admitted he was not acquainted with the editor, but told O’Donnell: “I hear she is impressive.
“In my view you've acquired a great new leader, frankly, that individual now heading your whole enterprise, is superb – from what I know,” he remarked.
Trump was especially enthusiastic in complimenting David Ellison and his parent, Larry, the new owner of CBS News’ parent company, Paramount Global, through their company Skydance Media.
“In my opinion one of the best things to happen is this show and the change in ownership, CBS under new management,” the president said. “I believe it is a major improvement that has occurred in a long time to a free and open and good press.”
The correspondent offered no direct reply to the president’s comments concerning the editor and the Ellisons.
Among the president's responses which were cut were several comments questioning the legitimacy of the last election, which he described “was rigged and unlawfully taken”.
At one point in the conversation, in a segment that was not aired, the president attempted to persuade the journalist to acknowledge that safety had improved in the capital, her place of residence.
“You live here. You know that too,” the president remarked, inquiring of the correspondent: “Have you noticed a difference?”
“I believe I’ve been working excessively,” she responded. “I have not gotten outside that much … I drive and go to work and return home.”
The president responded “that is an evasion” and insisted that the journalist noticed a difference.
The president then implied that the back-and-forth need not be included on the show.
“It is unnecessary to include that part,” he said. “No concerns, it's fine, I do not wish to cause her embarrassment.”
