CBS News Heavily Edits Donald Trump's TV Program Interview, Omitting Claim Regarding Network Paying Him Large Money

This CBS News program the long-running news magazine heavily edited a conversation with the former president that aired Sunday night, marking the initial sit-down with the program since 2019.

Trump sat down alongside journalist the CBS anchor for 90 minutes, but only about half an hour aired on television. The full text version of the interview subsequently published, alongside an extended digital cut from the interview.

The edits stand out since, precisely 12 months prior to the president's appearance with O’Donnell at his Mar-a-Lago resort, he filed suit against the network regarding the editing from another 60 Minutes segment featuring the vice president, which he alleged was manipulated to benefit her campaign in the presidential election.

While numerous legal experts largely rejected the lawsuit calling it baseless and unlikely to hold up under the first amendment, CBS settled with Trump for millions this past summer. Under the agreement, the network had agreed that it would release transcripts of future interviews with candidates.

During the opening of Sunday’s show, O’Donnell informed the audience that Paramount settled Trump’s lawsuit, but noted that “the settlement lacked any admission or expression of regret”.

In the conversation, in a clip omitted from broadcast, Trump teased the network about the agreement and repeated his allegations toward the broadcaster.

“In fact the program gave me a lotta money. You need not include this, since I do not wish to embarrass you, and I’m sure you’re not,” Trump said. “However the show had to compensate me a lot of money since they took Harris’s response out which was damaging, it was election-changing, 48 hours prior to voting. And they put a different response into the broadcast. They compensated me handsomely for that. You can’t have false reporting. We must have truthful journalism. And I think that it’s happening.”

During another un-aired portion of the interview, the president commended the sale of CBS to the Ellison family and said the broadcaster's new editor-in-chief, the journalist, was a “excellent addition”.

Trump admitted he was not acquainted with the editor, but told O’Donnell: “I hear she’s a great person.

“I think you have a talented director, honestly, that individual now heading your whole enterprise, is a great – from what I know,” he remarked.

The president was particularly enthusiastic in complimenting David Ellison and his parent, Larry, the new owner of the network's parent firm, Paramount, through their company Skydance Media.

“I think one of the best things recently involves this program and the change in ownership, the network and new ownership,” the president said. “I think it is a major improvement that has occurred in a long time to a free and open and reliable media.”

The correspondent offered no direct reply regarding these remarks concerning the editor and the owners.

Included in the president's responses that were edited out were multiple statements questioning the legitimacy of the last election, which he described “had been manipulated and unlawfully taken”.

At one point in the interview, in a part that was not aired, the president attempted to persuade O’Donnell to admit that safety had improved in the capital, her place of residence.

“You reside in DC. You are aware of this,” Trump said, asking O’Donnell: “Have you noticed a difference?”

“I think I have been occupied excessively,” she responded. “I have not gotten out and about that much … I drive and go to work and return home.”

The president said “that’s not a fair answer” maintaining that the journalist noticed an improvement.

Trump then implied that the back-and-forth didn’t need be included on the show.

“You don’t have to include that part,” he said. “No concerns, don’t worry, I don’t want to cause her embarrassment.”