Former President Donald Trump has backed out of a previously scheduled interview with “60 Minutes,” the popular newsmagazine in the United States. This decision was disclosed by CBS News just a few hours before hosting a vice-presidential debate between Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, and Kamala Harris’s running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Despite being a traditional platform for both Democratic and Republican candidates, Trump reversed his decision to participate in the interview, leaving the network scrambling to adjust its programming plans.
Initially, both the Harris and Trump campaigns had agreed to sit down with “60 Minutes,” with Trump committing to the interview first, followed by Harris. The veteran CBS anchor and correspondent, Scott Pelley, was set to conduct the interview with Trump. However, the network received notification from Trump’s campaign earlier on Tuesday that he would no longer be participating in the interview, disrupting their scheduled programming. This interview was going to be one of the final opportunities for voters to see both candidates on a major TV program before the November election.
Despite Trump’s refusal to participate, the primetime special will still proceed with an interview with Harris. Correspondent Bill Whitaker will follow Harris on the campaign trail and conduct the interview later in the week. CBS remained firm on their stance, stating that the original invitation to Trump still stands, despite the campaign’s denial of agreeing to the interview. The Trump campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, dismissed CBS’s claims and accused the network of lying and insisted that no interview had been scheduled.
Contrary to the claims of the Trump campaign, sources revealed that Pelley was scheduled to interview Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club and attend one of his rallies in Pennsylvania. When asked if there was a possibility of rescheduling the interview, Cheung responded negatively and criticized CBS for their alleged falsehoods. The Harris campaign also criticized Trump’s decision not to participate, suggesting that he was afraid of the debate stage and possibly uncomfortable with exposure beyond controlled environments.
In October 2020, Trump had a controversial interview with “60 Minutes” correspondent Lesley Stahl, which ended abruptly due to his objections to her questions. Despite the rocky history between Trump and the network, “60 Minutes” remains a highly sought-after platform for presidential candidates due to its large viewership. With the absence of additional debates scheduled between Trump and Harris, the decision not to participate in the interview was viewed as a missed opportunity for Trump to connect with voters through a major television program. The situation highlights the tension between political campaigns and the media as they navigate the final days leading up to the election.
