Trump pulls out of primetime '60 Minutes' interview, says CBS: NPR

Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally on Tuesday.

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This story first appeared on the NPR Network Live blog of the 2024 vice presidential debate between JD Vance and Tim Walz. You can find the latest on the campaign here: Go to NPR's election page.

The CBS News Show 60 minutes announced Tuesday that former President Donald Trump has backed out of an interview he agreed to as part of his prime-time election special next week.

“For over half a century 60 minutes “has invited Democratic and Republican candidates to appear on our show as Americans go to the polls,” the newsmagazine published 60 minutes.”

It continued: “After initial assumption 60 minutesWhen asked for an interview with Scott Pelley, the Trump campaign decided not to participate.

The election special will air as scheduled on Monday at 8 p.m. ET and will feature Vice President Harris' interview with correspondent Bill Whitaker.

“Our original invitation to former President Donald Trump for an interview 60 minutes stands,” the statement continues.

Watch NPR's analysis of the vice president debate with Asma Khalid, Susan Davis, Tamara Keith and Stephen Fowler.

Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung responded to X shortly afterwards, calling the show's version “fake news.”

He said the show was “begging for an interview” and despite initial discussions, “nothing was ever planned or set.”

“They also insisted on conducting a live fact check, which is unprecedented,” Cheung added.

Trump is in trouble 60 minutes She previously notably cut short an interview with correspondent Lesley Stahl in 2020 – and canceled a second that was previously scheduled – after becoming visibly frustrated with her “tough” style of questioning about the COVID-19 pandemic and other topics.

The Harris campaign was quick to criticize Trump on Tuesday evening. Senior adviser David Plouffe wrote on X that the former president was “afraid” of the debate stage and before 60 minutes.

“And his campaign team – after the last three days of increasingly erratic and unstable tirades at his rallies – is clearly afraid of exposing him outside comfortable confines,” he wrote.

He appeared to be referring to Trump's increasingly threatening and insulting rhetoric at rallies over the weekend, where he described Harris as “mentally impaired” and said police should be allowed to crack down on criminals “really tough” for an hour to send a message.

The primetime special would have been one of voters' last chances to see Trump and Harris side by side before Election Day. While the Harris campaign has called for a second debate, Trump's team has not agreed to one.

Tuesday night's debate between vice presidential candidates Tim Walz and JD Vance is the last on the schedule.