CBS News Significantly Trims Donald Trump's TV Program Sit-Down, Removing Boast Regarding Broadcaster Paying Him Substantial Money

The broadcast network show the long-running news magazine significantly edited a conversation with the former president broadcast on Sunday evening, marking the initial sit-down on the show in five years.

Trump sat down alongside journalist the CBS anchor for 90 minutes, yet merely approximately 28 minutes aired on television. The full transcript of the interview subsequently released, together with an extended online version of the conversation.

The edits stand out because, precisely 12 months prior to the president's appearance on the program at his Mar-a-Lago resort, he had sued the network regarding post-production changes from another news program segment with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, claiming it had been manipulated to benefit her chances during the race.

Although numerous legal experts largely rejected the legal action calling it baseless and improbable to hold up under the first amendment, CBS settled with Trump for $16m this past summer. Under the settlement, the network had agreed that it would publish full records of future interviews with candidates.

At the beginning of the broadcast, the correspondent informed the audience that Paramount settled the legal dispute, adding that the resolution lacked any admission or expression of regret”.

During the interview, in a clip omitted from broadcast, Trump teased the network over the settlement restating his allegations toward the broadcaster.

“Actually the program 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,” the president stated. “However 60 Minutes had to compensate me a lot of money because they removed Harris’s response out that was so bad, it proved election-changing, 48 hours before the election. They inserted a different response in. And they paid me handsomely because of it. We cannot tolerate fake news. We must have legit news. I believe this is occurring.”

In a separate un-aired portion of the interview, Trump commended the acquisition of CBS to new owners noting the network’s new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, was a “great new leader”.

The US president admitted he was not acquainted with the editor, yet informed the interviewer: “People say she is impressive.

“I think you have a great new leader, honestly, who’s the young woman now heading your entire organization, is superb – based on what I've heard,” he remarked.

The president was especially effusive in praising 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 recently involves this program and the change in ownership, the network under new management,” Trump said. “I think it is a major improvement that has occurred for years toward a transparent and good press.”

O’Donnell did not directly respond regarding these remarks about Weiss and the owners.

Among the president's responses which were cut were several comments doubting the integrity of the last election, which he described “was rigged and unlawfully taken”.

During one exchange in the conversation, in a part omitted from the broadcast, Trump tried to get the journalist to acknowledge that safety had improved in Washington DC, her place of residence.

“You reside in DC. You are aware of this,” Trump remarked, asking O’Donnell: “Do you see any change?”

“I think I have been occupied excessively,” she replied. “I have not gotten out and about often … I get in my car to the studio and return home.”

The president responded “that is an evasion” maintaining that O’Donnell noticed a difference.

The president then implied that the exchange need not be included in the program.

“It is unnecessary to include that part,” he noted. “Don’t worry, don’t worry, I do not wish to embarrass her.”