U.S. Republican Presidential former President Donald Trump speaks to attendees in a rally at the Bojangles Coliseum on July 24, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina Photo: Shutterstock
Last week, CBS reported that former President Donald Trump had canceled his scheduled appearance on the 60 Minutes October election special – something on which presidential candidates have appeared for more than 50 years.
In a scathing indictment of the Trump campaign’s conduct, 60 Minutes host Scott Pelley detailed on air the network’s back-and-forth with Trump’s staff that ultimately led to Trump turning down the offer to appear on the show.
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Pelley said Trump had initially agreed to participate at his Mar-a-Lago property as well as in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the former President survived an assassination attempt earlier this year. Trump communications director Steven Cheung sent a text to 60 Minutes staff saying: “I’m working with our advance team to see logistically if Butler would work in addition to the sit down.”
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He later called to say, “The president said yes.” However, last week Trump backed out. Pelley said the campaign provided “shifting explanations” for the cancellation, including complaints that the network would fact-check the interview. “We fact-check every story,” Pelley said.
Trump also reportedly demanded an apology for a 2020 interview with Lesley Stahl. Trump has falsely claimed that Stahl said Hunter Biden’s laptop, a source of scandal for Republicans for the past few years, came from Russia. Trump later walked out of this same interview.
For more than half a century, the major party candidates for president have sat down with 60 Minutes. This year, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump accepted our invitation. Unfortunately, last week Trump canceled. https://t.co/7t5jr5nyFJpic.twitter.com/VDJDDNYFab
Pelley also seemed to poke fun at Trump when he mentioned that the former president has claimed it is his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris who “can’t handle” interviews. He said Trump missed out on what could “may have been the largest audiences for the candidates between now and election day,” since Trump also declined to debate Harris again.
Cheung called Pelley’s comments “Fake News” on X yet doubled down on the campaign’s anger over fact-checking.
“60 Minutes begged for an interview, even after they were caught lying about Hunter Biden’s laptop back in 2020,” Cheung said. “There were initial discussions, but nothing was ever scheduled or locked in. They also insisted on doing live fact checking, which is unprecedented.”
Fake News. 60 Minutes begged for an interview, even after they were caught lying about Hunter Biden’s laptop back in 2020. There were initial discussions, but nothing was ever scheduled or locked in.
They also insisted on doing live fact checking, which is unprecedented. https://t.co/l7xIacc1JK
During her appearance on 60 Minutes, Harris said, “If [Trump] is not going to give your viewers the ability to have a meaningful, thoughtful conversation, question and answer with you, then watch his rallies. You’re going to hear conversations that are about himself and all of his personal grievances.”
“And what you will not hear is anything about you, the listener. You will not hear about how he is going to try to bring the country together, find common ground. And, Bill, that is why I believe in my soul and heart, the American people are ready to turn the page.”
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