CBS News Heavily Edits Donald Trump's TV Program Interview, Omitting Boast Regarding Network Compensating The President Large Funds

This broadcast network program the long-running news magazine heavily edited an interview with Donald Trump that aired Sunday night, marking his first one-on-one on the show in five years.

The former president spoke with correspondent the CBS anchor over an hour and a half, but only about 28 minutes aired on television. A complete transcript of the interview was later released, alongside an extended digital cut from the interview.

These cuts stand out since, exactly one year prior to the president's appearance with O’Donnell in Florida, he filed suit against CBS over the editing of a 60 Minutes interview with then-Vice President the vice president, claiming it was manipulated to help her campaign in the presidential election.

While numerous attorneys widely dismissed the legal action as “meritless” and improbable to succeed on free speech grounds, CBS settled with the president for millions this past summer. As part of the agreement, CBS had agreed to release full records from upcoming discussions with candidates.

During the opening of the broadcast, the correspondent informed the audience that Paramount settled the legal dispute, but noted that the resolution lacked any admission or expression of regret”.

During the interview, in a clip omitted from broadcast, the president teased CBS over the settlement and repeated his claims against the network.

“In fact 60 Minutes paid me a lotta money. And you don’t have to put this on, since I do not wish to cause you discomfort, and I trust you’re not,” Trump stated. “However 60 Minutes was forced to pay me a lot of money because they took Harris’s response from the segment which was damaging, it proved election-changing, two nights before the election. And they put a different response in. And they paid me a lot of money for that. We cannot tolerate fake news. We must have truthful journalism. I believe that it’s happening.”

During another segment not broadcast of the interview, Trump commended the acquisition of the network to the Ellison family noting the broadcaster's recently appointed head, the journalist, was a “great new leader”.

Trump said he didn’t know Weiss, yet informed O’Donnell: “People say she is impressive.

“In my view you have a great new leader, frankly, that individual now heading your whole enterprise, is a great – from what I know,” he remarked.

The president was particularly effusive in praising David Ellison and his parent, Larry, the new owner of CBS News’ parent company, Paramount, via their firm Skydance Media.

“In my opinion one of the best things recently involves this program and new ownership, the network under new management,” the president said. “I believe it is a major improvement that has occurred for years toward a transparent and reliable media.”

O’Donnell offered no direct reply to the president’s comments concerning the editor and the owners.

Among the president's responses which were cut were several comments questioning the integrity of the last election, which he described “had been manipulated and unlawfully taken”.

During one exchange in the conversation, in a part omitted from the broadcast, Trump attempted to persuade O’Donnell to acknowledge that crime was down in the capital, her place of residence.

“You reside in DC. You are aware of this,” Trump remarked, asking the correspondent: “Have you noticed a difference?”

“I think I’ve been working excessively,” she replied. “I haven’t been out and about often … I drive to the studio and I go home.”

Trump responded “that’s not a fair answer” and insisted that the journalist noticed a difference.

Trump then seemed to suggest that the exchange need not to be aired in the program.

“You don’t have to use that one,” he noted. “Don’t worry, it's fine, I do not wish to cause her embarrassment.”