President Trump to Sit Down for Interview on CBS’ “60 Minutes”
President Trump is set to have his first interview on CBS’ “60 Minutes” since suing the network last year. The lawsuit ended with Paramount Global, the network’s parent company, agreeing to pay a $16 million settlement. This interview will also mark Trump’s first appearance on the network since Paramount was acquired by David Ellison’s Skydance Media and since the company acquired The Free Press, with Bari Weiss being named editor-in-chief of CBS News.
The interview is scheduled to take place in Florida on Friday afternoon and will be conducted by network correspondent Norah O’Donnell, as confirmed by a network spokesperson to Variety.
This booking signifies a reconciliation of sorts between Trump and CBS News. Prior to the 2024 election, the Trump campaign declined an offer to be interviewed by “60 Minutes,” citing concerns about fact-checking interruptions. In contrast, his opponent, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, accepted a “60 Minutes” interview, leading to a lawsuit filed by Trump against CBS News just days before the election. The lawsuit alleged that “60 Minutes” aired two different edits of remarks made in the interview with Harris.
Although CBS and legal experts initially dismissed the case as “meritless” and sought its dismissal, Paramount Global opted to pay $16 million towards Trump’s “presidential library” in July. This settlement coincided with Skydance Global seeking approval from the Trump-appointed leadership of the Federal Communications Commission for its acquisition of Paramount, a deal that has since been finalized.
Since Ellison’s acquisition of Paramount, the company has raised eyebrows for seeming to cater to conservative audiences, particularly with the hiring of Weiss at CBS News, known for her opposition to progressive politics. Trump has expressed his approval of Paramount’s new direction, praising the Ellison family as friends and supporters.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One in October, Trump stated, “[Oracle chairman] Larry Ellison is great, and his son David is great. They’re friends of mine. They’re big supporters of mine. They will make the right decisions. They’re going to revitalize CBS — hopefully, they’ll bring it back to its former glory. … It’s got great potential. CBS has great potential.” Following Weiss’ appointment at CBS News, Trump told CNN, “I don’t expect them to become like Fox [News]. Just fair.”
