The upcoming "60 Minutes" election special will feature Vice President Kamala Harris, following former President Donald Trump's decision to decline participation citing unresolved grievances.
CBS News reported that a significant shift has occurred in the planned "60 Minutes" election special as former President Donald Trump opted out of what was to be a dual appearance with Vice President Kamala Harris. Initially, both political figures had agreed to participate in the broadcast scheduled for Monday, Oct. 7.
Trump's withdrawal from the interview came after his request for an apology from "60 Minutes" was not met.
The disagreement dates back to a contentious 2020 interview during which Trump prematurely ended the session.
In that 2020 encounter, Trump clashed with interviewer Lesley Stahl over several issues, notably a statement concerning Hunter Biden’s laptop, which Trump labeled as misinformation. This historical context sheds light on his current reluctance to engage with the show without receiving an apology.
During a recent press conference, Trump expressed his discontent by recounting the previous interview with "60 Minutes".
He mentioned the disagreement over the origin of a laptop involved in a news story, emphasizing his stance that it was inaccurately portrayed by the interviewers.
Trump’s campaign communications director, Steven Cheung, called out "60 Minutes" for what he described as a persistent unfair treatment towards Trump, even alleging that the show begged for a new interview while planning to conduct live fact-checking, an approach Trump opposed.
Despite the former president's non-participation, "60 Minutes" plans to continue with the special, featuring Vice President Kamala Harris.
She is set to discuss critical topics such as the economy, immigration, and ongoing international affairs in Ukraine and Israel, as interviewed by correspondent Bill Whitaker.
This solo appearance by Harris is particularly crucial as it comes ahead of the Nov. 5 election, where she and Trump have ended their direct debating with just one prior debate completion. The special is seen as a potential platform for Harris to outline her and the administration’s policies and vision directly to the voters.
In addition to Harris's segment, "60 Minutes" also invited Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Governor Tim Walz and Republican Senator JD Vance to participate in a debate moderated by Norah O'Donnell and Margaret Brennan.
The move by Trump and the subsequent focus on Harris highlights the strategic use of media appearances, or the absence thereof, as a tool in modern political campaigns.
Both camps are maneuvering through media engagements to shape public perception as the election nears.
"60 Minutes" has a long tradition of inviting presidential candidates to speak directly to American voters as the election approaches. This incident underscores the often-tense relationship between political figures and the press, where disagreements from past interactions can influence future engagements.
As the date for the special approaches, viewers are encouraged to tune in for what promises to be an insightful segment with Vice President Harris. The absence of Trump from this traditional electoral event does not diminish the potential impact of the discussions that will unfold on national television.