'60 Minutes’ defends editing of Harris interview after Trump criticism

'Same question. Same answer. But a different portion of the response,' the show said

Published: October 21, 2024 8:43am

Updated: October 21, 2024 10:18am

CBS News' program "60 Minutes" responded on Sunday night to former President Trump accusing the show of deceitfully editing the interview with Vice President Kamala Harris.

The Trump campaign had pointed out that Harris' answer to a question about Israel in the promotional clip the show used differed from the full segment.

“Why did 60 Minutes choose not to air Kamala’s full word salad, and what else did they choose not to air?” Karoline Leavitt, national press secretary for GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump asked Tuesday. “The American people deserve the full, unedited transcript."

CBS News released a statement defending its editing decision in response to Trump on Monday evening. The outlet has not provided a full transcript or raw video of the interview was Harris.

"Former President Donald Trump is accusing 60 Minutes of deceitful editing of our Oct. 7 interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. That is false. 60 Minutes gave an excerpt of our interview to Face the Nation that used a longer section of her answer than that on 60 Minutes. Same question. Same answer. But a different portion of the response," the show said in a statement. 

"When we edit any interview, whether a politician, an athlete, or movie star, we strive to be clear, accurate and on point. The portion of her answer on 60 Minutes was more succinct, which allows time for other subjects in a wide ranging 21-minute-long segment," the show also said.

The show said that Trump "pulled out of his interview with 60 Minutes" while Harris participated.

"Our long-standing invitation to former President Trump remains open. If he would like to discuss the issues facing the nation and the Harris interview, we would be happy to have him on 60 Minutes," the show said.

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