CBS News Says '60 Minutes' Trump Interview Was 'Fair'

CBS News announced Thursday that Lesley Stahl’s “60 Minutes” interview with President Donald Trump will still air in full on Sunday. Trump leaked his own recording of the interview earlier Thursday, claiming it was conducted with “bias” and “hatred.”

“The White House’s unprecedented decision to disregard their agreement with CBS News and release their footage will not deter 60 Minutes from providing its full, fair and contextual reporting which presidents have participated in for decades,” said a statement from the network.

“60 Minutes, the most-watched news program on television, is widely respected for bringing its hallmark fairness, deep reporting and informative context to viewers each week,” the network added. “Few journalists have the presidential interview experience Lesley Stahl has delivered over her decades as one of the premier correspondents in America and we look forward to audiences seeing her third interview with President Trump and subsequent interview with Vice President Pence this weekend.”

Also Read: Lesley Stahl Challenges Trump on Economy in '60 Minutes' Preview: 'You Know That's Not True'

Trump walked out of the interview Tuesday, then began a three-day attack on Stahl via Twitter, promising to release his recording ahead of the air date. CBS News said at the time the White House had said it was recording for archival purposes only. Wednesday, the president posted a series of photos of the interview with no caption or context.

Thursday, he posted a 37-minute recording of the interview, in which he repeatedly demanded Stahl be “fair.”

“Look at the bias, hatred and rudeness on behalf of 60 Minutes and CBS. Tonight’s anchor, Kristen Welker, is far worse!” he wrote, attacking NBC News’ Kristen Welker as well.

12 Trump Tweets About the Coronavirus That Are Super Awkward Right Now (Photos)

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday, which makes looking back on some of his tweets over the past 10 months pretty... ironic.
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On Jan. 24, the president was sure "it will all work out well." He even personally thanked China's President Xi.
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On March 18, he assured us that he "always treated the Chinese Virus very seriously."
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On May 24, he said mail-in ballots would create a "rigged election... Trying to use Covid for this Scam!"
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On May 25, he claimied "great reviews" on his handling of COVID-19, "sometimes referred to as the China Virus."
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Here's a gem from May 28: "All over the World the CoronaVirus, a very bad 'gift' from China, marches on. Not good!"
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On June 15, he complained that the "Far Left Fake News Media" is trying to "Covid Shame us on our big Rallies." This topic came up again few months later, at the first presidential debate, when Trump bragged that there has been "no negative effect" from his 35,000-40,000 person, largely-maskless, mid-pandemic outdoor rallies.
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Months before the U.S. deaths surpassed 200,000, Trump tweeted on June 25, "Coronavirus deaths are way down. Mortality rate is one of the lowest in the World."
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On July 5, Trump was still blaming the rise in COVID-19 cases to "massive testing" and that death numbers are down "low and steady," whatever that means.
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On July 6, Trump lamented that the "Lamestream Fake News Media REFUSE to say that China Virus deaths are down 39%." In September, the country reached 200,000 deaths from the coronavirus.
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Eight days after wearing a mask in public for the first time, he declared that "many people say that it is very Patriotic" to wear a mask on July 20.
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This one is particularly ironic. On Sept. 3, Trump criticized "Sleepy Joe Hiden'" for sitting back "in his basement and criticizes every move we make on the China Virus. DOING GREAT JOB!"
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On Sept. 18, Trump bragged that he had done "an incredible job" with the "China virus" than Biden did with the Swine flu pandemic in 2009.
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The President and first lady tested positive for the virus Friday

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday, which makes looking back on some of his tweets over the past 10 months pretty... ironic.

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12 Trump Tweets About the Coronavirus That Are Super Awkward Right Now (Photos)

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