Trump rejects "60 Minutes" interview; Harris accepts
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| Earlier "60 Minutes" interviews. Photos: CBS News |
Former President Trump turned down a "60 Minutes" offer of back-to-back conversations with both presidential nominees, with his campaign saying he didn't want interruptions for fact checks.
- Vice President Harris will appear on the show, airing Oct. 7. "60 Minutes," the highest-rated news program on TV, says the invitation to Trump stands.
Why it matters: With Trump saying it's "too late" for another debate with Harris, the show could have been a final chance for both candidates to reach a mass audience, 29 days before Election Day.
Between the lines: CBS says Trump accepted, then pulled out. Steven Cheung, the Trump campaign communications director, told Axios:
- "There were discussions but nothing was ever scheduled or locked in. They insisted on cutting out of the interview to do fact-checking."
What they're saying: "60 Minutes is scheduled to air a primetime election special on a Monday edition of the broadcast on October 7 at 8PM," the show tweeted as a "programming note" three hours before the vice-presidential debate on Tuesday night.
- "For over half a century, 60 Minutes has invited the Democratic and Republican tickets to appear on our broadcast as Americans head to the polls."
A "60 Minutes" spokesperson added: "This year, both the Harris and Trump campaigns agreed to sit down with 60 Minutes. Vice President Harris will speak with correspondent Bill Whitaker. After initially accepting 60 Minutes' request for an interview with Scott Pelley, former President Trump's campaign has decided not to participate. Pelley will address this Monday evening."
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In hiding mode. Risk averse? He doesn't talk risk averse. Not projecting that persona. Strange, a narcissist demurral? That's hard to sell. I believe in myself, but 60 Minutes would be "rigged?" Whatever I don't like, or fear, is "rigged?"
Actions speak loudest? What is it about - not wanting to be fact checked? Wanting to lie like a rug? Not wanting to be held to truth? That is despicable.
Fact checking would be "rigged?" Telling the truth is "rigged?" What?