Former President Donald Trump’s campaign denied allegations that he backed out of a planned “60 Minutes” interview after CBS News announced he would no longer participate. CBS stated that both the Trump and Harris campaigns had initially agreed to appear on a special edition of “60 Minutes” airing next Monday, but Trump’s team now claims no formal commitment was made.
The Trump campaign’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, dismissed the network’s claims as “fake news,” accusing CBS of pushing a biased narrative. “There were initial discussions, but nothing was ever scheduled or locked in,” Cheung said, adding that the show insisted on “live fact-checking,” which he called “unprecedented.” Trump himself referenced a contentious 2020 interview with CBS’s Lesley Stahl over the Hunter Biden laptop controversy as a reason for his reluctance to engage.
CBS maintained its stance, indicating that Trump’s interview with Scott Pelley was set to take place later this week. The network confirmed that Vice President Kamala Harris’s interview, conducted by Bill Whitaker, will proceed as scheduled. Harris’s team swiftly criticized Trump’s decision, with senior adviser David Plouffe stating, “Afraid of the debate stage. Afraid of 60 Minutes.”
The dispute over the interview comes amid heightened tensions ahead of the 2024 election, with both campaigns vying for prime media exposure. Trump’s withdrawal from the “60 Minutes” feature, if confirmed, could limit opportunities for the former president to address a wide audience in the lead-up to Election Day.
Despite the disagreement, CBS News reiterated that its invitation to Trump remains open, though it remains unclear if the former president will change his stance. For now, the upcoming “60 Minutes” special will focus solely on Vice President Harris’s interview.
