Trump Demands Unedited Version of Kamala Harris’s ’60 Minutes’ Interview Amid Editing Controversy
Former President Donald Trump has criticized CBS News, accusing them of editing Vice President Kamala Harris’s ’60 Minutes’ interview to make her appear “more presidential.”
Trump Alleges Manipulation of Harris’s Responses
In a series of social media posts, Trump expressed outrage over what he called intentional manipulation by CBS News. He claimed the network edited Harris’s responses during her interview, particularly on her comments regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict. Trump alleged that Harris’s answers, which he described as “incoherent,” were “sliced and diced” by producers in an effort to improve her public image.
“Just imagine, ‘60 Minutes’ actually took Lyin’ Kamala’s answers, and CHANGED THEM,” Trump posted, adding that the edits were done multiple times within single sentences. According to him, the purpose was to make Harris sound “more presidential” or at least “better.”
Trump’s accusations go further, as he suggested that such edits might even breach campaign finance regulations. He described the situation as a major scandal for the reputable news program, calling it a “stain on the reputation of ‘60 Minutes’” and demanded an immediate investigation into the matter.
Calls for the Release of the Full, Unedited Interview
The Trump campaign echoed these concerns, calling for CBS to release the unedited version of Harris’s interview. Karoline Leavitt, the National Press Secretary for Trump’s campaign, pointed out that the Sunday teaser of Harris’s interview received backlash on social media for her “word salad” responses. According to Leavitt, the full version aired the next day was edited in a way that downplayed Harris’s more awkward moments.
Leavitt questioned why CBS did not air Harris’s full responses and urged the network to disclose any content that was left out. “The American people deserve the full, unedited transcript from Kamala’s sit-down interview,” she stated, asking, “What do they, and Kamala, have to hide?”
A History of Pre-Election ’60 Minutes’ Interviews
Typically, both presidential candidates participate in ’60 Minutes’ interviews leading up to the election. While Harris’s appearance followed this tradition, Trump backed out of his scheduled interview, citing concerns over the network’s handling of the content.
Trump’s statements and demands for transparency underscore the ongoing tensions between his campaign and major media outlets, particularly over issues of coverage fairness and potential bias. For now, it remains to be seen whether CBS will respond to the former president’s demands for the unedited version of Harris’s interview.