Donald Trump refuses to participate in interview for election TV special
2 October 2024, 00:04
The 60 Minutes show said Mr Trump’s campaign had initially agreed to an interview before telling CBS the former president would not appear.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has declined to participate in a TV interview for CBS which will now go ahead just with Democratic opponent Kamala Harris, the network said.
US television’s top-rated news programme 60 Minutes regularly invites the two presidential contenders for separate interviews that air back-to-back on a show near the election.
This year, it is scheduled for Monday instead of its usual Sunday time slot.
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 Mr Trump’s campaign had initially agreed to an interview before telling CBS that the former president would not appear.
The network said its invitation to sit for an interview still stands, and correspondent Scott Pelley will explain Mr Trump’s absence to viewers.
Vice President Ms Harris will appear in a pre-taped interviewed with Bill Whitaker.
There are no other scheduled opportunities for voters to compare the two candidates together. Ms Harris and Mr Trump previously debated on September 10.
Although Ms Harris has accepted an invitation from CNN for a second debate later this month, Mr Trump has not accepted..
The interview special is scheduled to air on Monday instead of the usual 60 Minutes time slot because CBS is showing the American Music Awards on Sunday.
Mr Trump’s interview with 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl before the 2020 election proved contentious, with the former president ending the session early and his campaign posting an unedited transcript of the session.
CBS News was hosting Tuesday’s vice presidential debate between Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz.
