NEW YORK — CBS News said Tuesday that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has declined to participate in an interview with “60 Minutes” for its election special, which will go ahead next Monday with only Democratic challenger Kamala Harris.
Television’s top-rated news program regularly invites the two presidential candidates for separate interviews that air back-to-back on a show close to the election. This year it is scheduled for Monday instead of its usual Sunday time.
Asked for comment, the former president’s campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said, “Fake news,” adding that there were discussions but nothing was ever locked in.
“60 Minutes” said Trump’s campaign had initially agreed to an interview before telling CBS the former president would not appear. The network said its invitation to sit for an interview still stands, and correspondent Scott Pelley will explain Trump’s absence to viewers.
Vice President Harris will appear in a pre-recorded interview with Bill Whitaker.
There are currently no other scheduled opportunities for voters to compare the two candidates together. Harris and Trump previously discussed on September 10. Although Harris has accepted an invitation from CNN for a second debate later this month, Trump has not.
The interview special is scheduled to air Monday instead of the regular “60 Minutes” time slot because CBS airs American Music Awards on Sunday.
Cheung said “60 Minutes” insisted on doing live fact-checking for the interview, “which is unprecedented.” CBS had no immediate comment on his claim.
Trump’s interview with “60 Minutes” correspondent Lesley Stahl before the 2020 election, it proved contentious, with the former president ending the session early and his campaign releasing an unedited transcript of the session.
CBS News hosted Tuesday’s vice presidential debate between Ohio Republican Sen. JD Vance and Tim WaltzMinnesota’s Democratic governor.
Originally published: