CBS News’ “60 Minutes” on Monday opened with a detailed account from correspondent Scott Pelley on the lead up to former President Donald Trump bailing on the show’s customary interview with presidential candidates before the election.
“It’s been a tradition for more than half a century that the major party candidates for president sit down with ’60 Minutes’ in October,” Pelley explained.
Trump’s campaign agreed to film an interview last Thursday at the GOP nominee’s Mar-a-Lago home and there were also discussions about joining Trump during his return at the weekend to Butler, Pennsylvania, where in July there was an attempt on his life, said Pelley.
But “a week ago, Trump backed out,” Pelley recalled. “The campaign offered shifting explanations. First, it complained that we would fact-check the interview. We fact-check every story.”
“Later, Trump said he needed an apology for his interview in 2020,” Pelley continued, referencing the “60 Minutes” sit-down with Lesley Stahl where Trump bristled over a line of questioning and ended up walking out. (Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung has claimed the 2024 interview was never “locked in.”)
“Trump has said his opponent doesn’t do interviews because she can’t handle them. He has previously declined another debate with Harris so tonight may have been the largest audience for the candidate from now until election day,” said Pelley.
“Both campaigns understood this special would go ahead if either candidate backed out,” Pelley concluded, cutting to Bill Whitaker’s interview with Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris.
In Harris’ interview, the vice president called out Trump’s decision not to take part. “If he is not gonna give your viewers the ability to have a meaningful, thoughtful conversation, question and answer with you, then watch his rallies,” she said.
“You’re gonna hear conversations that are about himself and all of his personal grievances,” Harris added. “And what you will not hear is anything about you, the listener. You will not hear about how he is gonna try to bring the country together, find common ground.”