Trump Declines to Appear on ‘60 Minutes’ Interview: CBS

Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump attends a campaign rally at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, Pa., on Sept. 29, 2024. Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump has declined to participate in an election special interview with “60 Minutes,” according to its broadcaster, the CBS television network.

The communications director for the Trump campaign refuted the network’s assertion that Trump had backed out after initially agreeing but indicated Trump would not be participating.

Vice President Kamala Harris will still appear on the show as planned.

The Harris and Trump interviews were scheduled to air during an Oct. 7 special election edition of “60 Minutes,” the show said in a statement on social media platform X on Oct. 1.

Veteran correspondent Scott Pelley was initially set to interview Republican presidential nominee Trump, who had confirmed his appearance through his campaign, according to the CBS statement.

The primetime show—which regularly invites the two presidential contenders for separate interviews that air back-to-back on a show near the election—will still be broadcast as planned, albeit without Trump, “60 Minutes” said.

In a post on X, Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung said they had not agreed for the Republican presidential nominee to be interviewed.

He said that “60 Minutes begged for an interview.”

“There were initial discussions, but nothing was ever scheduled or locked in,” Cheung said. “They also insisted on doing live fact-checking, which is unprecedented.”

Harris, the Democratic Party’s nominee, will appear in a pretaped interview with correspondent Bill Whitaker, according to the CBS statement.

“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,” the show said. “This year, both the Harris and Trump campaigns agreed to sit down with 60 Minutes.”

“After initially accepting 60 Minutes’ request for an interview with Scott Pelley, former President Trump’s campaign has decided not to participate,” the show continued.

According to “60 Minutes,” veteran CBS anchor Pelley will address Trump’s decision not to participate in the special election interview when the show airs on Oct. 7.

“Our original invitation to former President Donald Trump to be interviewed on 60 Minutes stands,” the show concluded.

The “60 Minutes” sit-down interviews were set to be one of the final times American voters would have been able to see both presidential candidates on a major television program before Nov. 5.

The announcement from “60 Minutes” came shortly before Republican Sen. JD Vance and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota took to the state for what is likely to be the only vice presidential debate before the general election.

CBS News hosted that vice presidential debate.

Currently, no additional debates have been scheduled between Trump and Harris, who previously debated on Sept. 10.

The Epoch Times has contacted the Trump campaign for further comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.