Trump Harris interview/ 60 Minutes candidate special/ CBS election interview/ presidential interview showcase/ Newslooks/ NEW YORK/ CBS’ “60 Minutes” is preparing its presidential candidate interview special, scheduled for October 7. Both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have been invited, but neither has confirmed participation. The news show hopes to air one of the few remaining side-by-side evaluations of the candidates ahead of the election.
CBS ’60 Minutes’ Prepares Candidate Showcase Quick Looks:
- CBS’ “60 Minutes” invites Trump and Harris for an October 7 interview special.
- Both campaigns are in discussions, but neither has confirmed participation yet.
- The 2020 Trump interview ended abruptly, with Trump walking out after a contentious exchange.
- This year’s interviews will be conducted by Scott Pelley with Trump and Bill Whitaker with Harris.
- The vice presidential candidates, Tim Walz and JD Vance, are also invited.
CBS’ ’60 Minutes’ Eyes October Interviews with Trump and Harris
Deep Look:
CBS’ iconic news program “60 Minutes” is gearing up for its quadrennial presidential candidate interview special, set to air in early October, though it remains unclear if both major candidates—former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris—will participate. With no additional debates planned between the two following this week’s encounter in Philadelphia, the “60 Minutes” segment could serve as one of the few remaining opportunities for voters to compare the candidates directly ahead of November’s election.
The CBS newsmagazine has reached out to both campaigns, with discussions ongoing. However, neither candidate has officially confirmed their appearance on the show. “I’m confident this is going to work,” said Bill Owens, the executive producer of “60 Minutes.” He expressed hope that both Trump and Harris would seize the opportunity, adding, “For either campaign, it wouldn’t be a great look if they turned down an opportunity to be on ‘60 Minutes.’”
The program’s scheduling will be slightly unconventional this year. Typically airing on Sundays, the candidate interviews are planned for Monday, October 7, to avoid a conflict with CBS’ broadcast of the American Music Awards the night before. Owens noted that the network has also invited the vice presidential candidates, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Ohio Senator JD Vance, to participate.
Four years ago, Trump’s “60 Minutes” appearance ended in controversy when he abruptly walked out of the interview with correspondent Lesley Stahl. The session was contentious from the start, with Stahl repeatedly challenging the then-president’s claims. Trump, in turn, accused Stahl of interrupting him frequently and later released an unedited version of the interview through his campaign. While campaigns are permitted to record such interviews, Owens hopes a similar incident won’t occur this time, stating, “I would hope that they don’t do that again. I hope that we have a serious conversation.”
This year, Trump’s interview would be handled by correspondent Scott Pelley, a departure from the previous Stahl-led exchange. Owens clarified that the switch was not directly related to the 2020 incident but is part of the network’s broader coverage plan. Pelley has previously covered significant political events for the network and is expected to take a measured approach during the interview.
As for Harris, she would be interviewed by correspondent Bill Whitaker. Harris previously participated in a “60 Minutes” segment during her vice-presidential campaign in 2020. The old-school interview style of “60 Minutes,” where conversations are recorded in advance and edited into a polished segment, is increasingly rare in modern political campaigns, which tend to favor live interviews or unfiltered appearances.
CBS’ “60 Minutes” is a long-running staple of American journalism, renowned for its in-depth reporting. It enters its latest season on Sunday, starting with an episode featuring correspondent Scott Pelley examining the January 6th Capitol insurrection. Additionally, the program will feature six expanded 90-minute editions in the coming months, a format the network first experimented with last year.
