In an unexpected turn of events this week, Donald Trump’s campaign team pulled out of a preplanned interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes.” The interview was anticipated as a critical component of the network’s election special, intended to showcase both Republican and Democratic presidential candidates. Despite Vice President Kamala Harris confirming her appearance, the Trump team chose to withdraw.
CBS released a statement acknowledging that for over five decades, “60 Minutes” has invited both main party candidates to be interviewed during the electoral season. The Trump campaign initially agreed to the interview with correspondent Scott Pelley, but later rescinded their agreement. CBS added that their standing invitation for former President Donald Trump to be featured on “60 Minutes” still stands.
The move has elicited responses from both camps. Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung disputed the CBS account, saying, “They begged for an interview, and despite initial discussions, nothing was ever scheduled or locked in.” He added that CBS insisted on live fact-checking during the interview, a demand Cheung described as “unprecedented” and a factor in their decision to withdraw.
The Trump campaign has had previous encounters with the news program that were less than cordial. In 2020, Trump terminated an interview with “60 Minutes” correspondent Lesley Stahl prematurely, citing frustration with the nature of the questions. The then-president also withdrew from another planned interview during the same period, expressing dissatisfaction with the tough line of questioning.
In response to the development, the Harris campaign swiftly reacted with Senior adviser David Plouffe criticizing Trump on “X” for appearing to avoid both the debate stage and “60 Minutes.” Plouffe also mentioned Trump’s recent rally behavior, where he made provocative remarks about Harris, as further evidence of his inclination to avoid challenging situations.
This decision carries weight as the election special, which was broadcast on Monday, October 7, 2024, at 8 p.m. ET, represented one of the last opportunities for voters to see both candidates in a major televised setting. With Trump’s withdrawal, only Harris remained scheduled for an interview, with her conversation with correspondent Bill Whitaker featured. The Trump campaign has not definitively ruled out future appearances nor agreed to a second debate, despite the Harris campaign’s calls for another face-off.
The issue of live fact-checking has been a major sticking point. Cheung maintained that CBS’ demand for live fact-checking was a dealbreaker for the Trump team. Insiders revealed that the interview was planned to take place at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida before continuing at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. CBS has not commented on these details.