In an extensive 60 Minutes interview, former President Donald Trump offered a mix of praise and criticism, emphasizing his views on the new leadership at CBS and the direction of the network's news division. Notably, he expressed admiration for the new owners of CBS-parent Paramount and specifically lauded Bari Weiss, the recently appointed head of the news division. “I see good things happening in the news,” Trump remarked, noting that the change in ownership was a significant positive development for a “free and open” press.
This interview marked Trump’s first appearance on 60 Minutes in five years and followed a high-profile lawsuit against CBS regarding the editing of a previous interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. CBS's parent company, Paramount Global, settled the lawsuit for $16 million, despite previously labeling the claims as baseless. Many legal analysts deemed the settlement dubious, suggesting it was a strategic move to facilitate regulatory approval for Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount shortly thereafter.
Since the transition to new ownership under David Ellison, CBS has taken steps that many interpret as a shift towards a more conservative news division. This includes the hiring of an ombudsman from a right-leaning think tank and the appointment of Bari Weiss, founder of the center-right opinion site Free Press, as editor-in-chief. Trump commented on Weiss, stating, “I don’t know her, but I hear she’s a great person,” while also recalling the financial settlement he received from CBS concerning the edited interview with Harris.
During the interview, Trump criticized the editing practices of 60 Minutes, claiming they altered a crucial response from Harris that could have affected the election outcome. He highlighted that CBS had “paid a lot of money” due to what he termed “fake news.” Despite O'Donnell’s acknowledgment of the settlement during the broadcast, she clarified that it did not entail an apology or admission of wrongdoing from CBS.
Throughout the broadcast, Norah O’Donnell pressed Trump on several pressing issues, including government shutdowns and international relations, notably regarding Venezuela and China. Trump downplayed questions about his recent pardon of Changpeng Zhao, the founder of the crypto marketplace Binance, claiming ignorance of who Zhao was. Furthermore, O'Donnell challenged Trump on controversial ICE raids, asking if such tactics had gone too far, to which Trump responded that they hadn’t gone far enough.
In a discussion surrounding the rising cost of living, Trump dismissed O’Donnell’s assertion that grocery prices have escalated, asserting instead that the economy was thriving. He claimed that 401(k) values had doubled, even as conflicting reports from his former treasury secretary indicated that certain economic sectors were experiencing recession. The interview lacked significant confrontations, unlike Trump's previous appearance in 2020 with Lesley Stahl.
O'Donnell pressed Trump on the GOP's healthcare plan, which he claimed to have in place as a solution to the rising costs of health insurance premiums. When questioned about the long-standing nature of these promises since 2015, Trump insisted that a solution was forthcoming but failed to provide concrete details. The discussion also touched on the Trump administration's legal actions against political opponents, including James Comey and Letitia James, with Trump denying any direct involvement in instructing the Department of Justice to pursue these cases.
Trump's interview on 60 Minutes revealed a complex interplay of praise, criticism, and continued controversy surrounding his administration's legacy. As CBS navigates its new leadership under David Ellison and Bari Weiss, the implications for its news division and the broader media landscape remain to be seen. The interview, while revealing, also raised questions about the editorial choices made by CBS and the ongoing challenge of balancing journalistic integrity with political narratives.
