The Network Heavily Edits Donald Trump's TV Program Sit-Down, Omitting Claim Regarding Network Compensating The President Substantial Money

The CBS News show the long-running news magazine significantly trimmed a conversation with the former president broadcast Sunday night, representing the initial one-on-one with the program since 2019.

The former president sat down with correspondent Norah O’Donnell for 90 minutes, but only approximately half an hour were broadcast. A complete text version of the interview subsequently released, together with a 73-minute digital cut from the interview.

These cuts stand out because, precisely 12 months before Trump's appearance on the program at his Mar-a-Lago resort, he filed suit against the network regarding post-production changes of a news program interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, claiming it was manipulated to help her chances in the presidential election.

Although numerous attorneys largely rejected the lawsuit as “meritless” and unlikely to succeed on free speech grounds, the broadcaster reached an agreement with the president for millions this past summer. As part of the settlement, the network had agreed to publish transcripts of future interviews of presidential candidates.

At the beginning of the broadcast, the correspondent informed the audience that the parent company resolved Trump’s lawsuit, adding that “the settlement did not include any admission or admission of wrongdoing”.

During the interview, in one segment omitted from broadcast, the president teased CBS over the settlement restating his claims against the network.

“Actually the program paid me a lotta money. And you don’t have to include this, because I don’t wanna cause you discomfort, and I trust you’re not,” Trump said. “But the show was forced to pay me a large amount because they took her answer out that was so bad, it proved decisive, 48 hours before the election. And they put a new answer in. And they paid me handsomely for that. You can’t have false reporting. We must have legit news. And I think that it’s happening.”

In a separate segment not broadcast from the discussion, the president commended the acquisition of the network to the Ellison family noting the broadcaster's recently appointed head, the journalist, is a “excellent addition”.

Trump said he didn’t know the editor, yet informed the interviewer: “People say she is impressive.

“I think you've acquired a talented director, honestly, that individual that’s leading your entire organization, is a great – based on what I've heard,” he said.

Trump was especially enthusiastic in complimenting the executive and his parent, Larry Ellison, the recent purchaser of CBS News’ parent company, Paramount, through their company Skydance Media.

“I think one of the best things to happen is this show and new ownership, the network and new ownership,” the president commented. “I believe it’s the greatest thing that has occurred for years to a free and open and reliable media.”

O’Donnell did not directly respond regarding these remarks about Weiss and the Ellisons.

Among the president's responses which were cut were multiple statements doubting the integrity of the last election, which he described “was rigged and unlawfully taken”.

At one point in the interview, in a part that was not aired, the president tried to get O’Donnell to admit that crime was down in Washington DC, her place of residence.

“You reside in DC. You know that too,” the president said, asking the correspondent: “Have you noticed any change?”

“I believe I’ve been working excessively,” she replied. “I have not gotten out and about often … I get in my car to the studio and return home.”

The president responded “that’s not a fair answer” and insisted that O’Donnell noticed an improvement.

Trump then seemed to suggest that the exchange didn’t need be included in the program.

“It is unnecessary to include that part,” he said. “Don’t worry, don’t worry, I do not wish to cause her embarrassment.”