President Donald Trump will make his return to “60 Minutes” this weekend, marking his first appearance on the program since settling a lawsuit with CBS News over an interview with Kamala Harris earlier this year. The interview, conducted by Norah O’Donnell at his Mar-a-Lago estate, is scheduled to air on Sunday.
Trump’s relationship with the long-standing newsmagazine has been unpredictable. Following the recent acquisition of CBS’s parent company by new CEO David Ellison, Trump has expressed a more amicable stance towards the network. Ellison is the son of Larry Ellison, a prominent supporter of Trump, which has led to speculation about a shift in the dynamics between the former president and CBS.
Details surrounding the upcoming interview remain sparse, particularly regarding any stipulations that may have been set for the discussion. O’Donnell, previously the anchor of “CBS Evening News,” is not among the regular correspondents for “60 Minutes.” Trump’s last interaction with the show was contentious; he left an interview with correspondent Lesley Stahl shortly before the 2020 election, claiming bias. Following that interview, Trump’s team released an unedited transcript of their conversation to bolster their claims.
Throughout the 2024 election campaign, Trump declined to participate in a “60 Minutes” interview, citing dissatisfaction with how Harris’s interview was edited. He accused CBS of manipulating the footage to present her in a favorable light, a claim that the network categorically denied. In response to the lawsuit filed by Trump, Paramount agreed to pay him $16 million to bring the matter to a close this summer.
This settlement occurred just prior to the Federal Communications Commission‘s approval of Paramount’s merger with Ellison’s Skydance Media. Following the lawsuit, Bill Owens, the executive producer of “60 Minutes,” resigned, stating that he could no longer run the program independently.
Since assuming control at Paramount, Ellison has hinted at fostering a closer relationship with Trump. He appointed Kenneth Weinstein, a former leader of a conservative think tank and a donor to Trump’s campaign, to investigate claims of bias within the network’s reporting.
In a recent development, Paramount acquired the Free Press website in October and appointed its founder, Bari Weiss, as the new editor-in-chief of CBS News. Weiss reportedly played a role in securing interviews with Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and aide Steve Witkoff for a “60 Minutes” segment focused on the ongoing peace negotiations in Gaza.
On October 12, during a return flight from the Middle East, Trump spoke positively about Larry and David Ellison, stating, “They’re friends of mine. They’re big supporters of mine, and they’ll do the right thing.” As the political landscape continues to evolve, this forthcoming interview will be closely scrutinized for its potential implications on Trump’s media strategy and his engagement with mainstream outlets.
