President Donald Trump had kind words about Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount and Bari Weiss’ appointment to CBS News in his first sit-down interview on “60 Minutes” in five years.
CBS News on Sunday released the full transcript of a 90-minute session with CBS News senior correspondent and “60 Minutes” contributor Norah O’Donnell. The conversation touched on many topics, from international politics to ICE raids in the United States, economic and medical policing, and the federal government shutdown. The interview was recorded on October 31st at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. Highlights of the interview aired on “60 Minutes” on Sunday.
The session also marks the first time Trump has returned to the station for an interview since the station’s parent company reached a $16 million settlement in a lawsuit he filed against the venerable news magazine. Paramount Communications, the former owner of CBS, cut the check under pressure to close the $8 billion Skydance Media deal. Although legal experts agree that Trump’s unsubstantiated claims that “60 Minutes” harmed him by altering then-candidate Kamala Harris’ responses would easily fail on legal grounds in court, the previous Paramount ownership structure bowed to extraordinary pressure from President Trump and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.
“’60 Minutes’ paid me a lot of money. And I don’t have to wear this because I don’t want to embarrass you, and I’m sure you don’t — you’ve got a great leader — frankly, I think you’ve got a great new leader, but who is this young woman who’s running all of your operations — who, as far as I know, is a great person,” Trump said, referring to Weiss being named editor-in-chief last month. CBS News.
“I don’t know her, but I hear she’s a great person. But 60 Minutes paid me a lot of money because they featured her answer two days before the election, which was so bad that it changed the election. And they put in a new answer, and they paid me a lot of money to do that. There should be no fake news. There’s got to be legitimate news. And I think that’s what’s happening. I see good things happening at TV stations, and I think this program and new ownership, this is the greatest thing that’s ever happened to a free, open, good news organization.”
O’Donnell also questioned Trump about the conflict between his role as commander-in-chief and his family’s investments and marketing of Trump-branded cryptocurrencies.
“I want to make cryptocurrencies great for America. That’s the only thing. I don’t want someone else to have cryptocurrencies and China to be number one in the world in cryptocurrencies,” Trump said. “Because the cryptocurrency industry is basically an industry where you can be number one, but never number two. And right now, we’re number one by a wide margin, and I want to keep it that way. Just like we’re number one in AI, we’re number one in crypto, and I want to keep it that way.”
Asked directly about the Trump family’s cryptocurrency activities, Trump was dismissive. “I can’t say. Because I can’t say. I’m not worried. I don’t care. I’d rather not have you ask that question. But I did. You just came up to me and said, ‘Can I ask you another question?’ And I said, yes. This is the question-”
Much of the interview was spent asking O’Donnell questions about the president’s views on geopolitical hotspots and the challenges the United States faces in dealing with Russia, China, Israel, Venezuela and other unpredictable situations.
When it came to discussing domestic economic issues, Trump used his usual bravado to fend off O’Donnell’s efforts to press for specifics.
“We’re doing very well. By the way, the stock market just hit an all-time high — perfect timing for the show. It hit an all-time high. It’s hit all-time highs 48 times in my nine months in office. But just yesterday, the stock market hit a high. We’re doing very well, and we all know that,” Trump said.
He blamed his White House predecessors, Joe Biden and Barack Obama, for a myriad of problems, including persistently high food prices.
“We went from being a dead country to now being the hottest country in the world. We have the strongest stock market and everyone wants in. A year ago we were a dead country. Now we’re the hottest country in the world. Think about it. And I did it in nine months, and it’s only going to get better,” Trump said.
O’Donnell pressed Trump on the Justice Department’s recent indictments of Trump’s political opponents, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey.
Trump told O’Donnell, “I think I was very mild-mannered. It’s like looking at a guy who’s been indicted so many times that I had to break the rap.”
The president did not budge on the brutal ICE raids in Los Angeles, Chicago and other major cities that shocked the nation, including some prominent Trump supporters.
“I think they haven’t gone far enough because we’ve been held back by the judges, the liberal judges who were appointed by Biden and Obama,” Trump said. Mr. O’Donnell specifically asked whether he approves of violence carried out by heavily masked law enforcement officers in workplaces, schools and courthouses. Trump left no doubt about his position. “Because we have to get people out,” he said.
As the government shutdown enters its 33rd day, President Trump said Republicans are “continuing to vote” even though Speaker Mike Johnson has adjourned the House for most of the previous government shutdown.
“What we’re doing is continuing to vote. So Republicans are voting almost unanimously for termination, but Democrats are continuing to vote against termination. You know, they’ve never had anything like this. This has happened like 18 times before,” Trump said. “Democrats always voted for extensions by saying, ‘Give us an extension and we’ll figure it out.’ They’ve lost their way. They’ve become crazed lunatics. And all they have to do, Nora, is say, ‘Let’s vote.’ “
He took issue with O’Donnell’s suggestion that the situation in the Gaza Strip is “fragile” regarding the ceasefire that President Trump helped bring about last month. He threatened to use force against Hamas terrorists if necessary.
“If Hamas misbehaves, they can be taken out quickly. They know that. If they misbehave, they can be taken out quickly,” Trump said.
