CBS Information’ “60 Minutes” on Monday opened with an in depth account from correspondent Scott Pelley on the lead-up to former President Donald Trump bailing on the present’s customary interview with presidential candidates earlier than the election.
“It’s been a practice for greater than half a century that the major-party candidates for president sit down with ‘60 Minutes’ in October,” Pelley defined.
Watch the video right here:
Trump’s marketing campaign agreed to document an interview final Thursday on the GOP nominee’s Mar-a-Lago dwelling and there have been additionally discussions about becoming a member of Trump throughout his return over the weekend to Butler, Pennsylvania, the place in July there was an try on his life, mentioned Pelley.
However “per week in the past, Trump backed out,” Pelley recalled. “The marketing campaign provided shifting explanations. First, it complained that we might fact-check the interview. We fact-check each story.”
“Later, Trump mentioned he wanted an apology for his interview in 2020,” Pelley continued, referencing the “60 Minutes” sit-down with Lesley Stahl the place Trump bristled over a line of questioning and ended up strolling out. (Trump marketing campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung has claimed the 2024 interview was by no means “locked in.”)
“Trump has mentioned his opponent doesn’t do interviews as a result of she will’t deal with them. He had beforehand declined one other debate with Harris so tonight could have been the biggest viewers for the candidates from now till Election Day,” mentioned Pelley.
“Each campaigns understood this particular would go forward if both candidate backed out,” Pelley concluded, reducing to Invoice Whitaker’s interview with Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris.
In Harris’ interview, the vice chairman referred to as out Trump’s choice not to participate. “If he’s not gonna give your viewers the power to have a significant, considerate dialog, query and reply with you, then watch his rallies,” she mentioned.
“You’re gonna hear conversations which can be about himself and all of his private grievances,” Harris added. “And what you’ll not hear is something about you, the listener. You’ll not hear about how he’s gonna attempt to convey the nation collectively, discover widespread floor.”
