Vice President Kamala Harris slammed former President Donald Trump for backing out of his interview with “60 Minutes” while accusing him of not being able to give viewers “a meaningful, thoughtful conversation.”
“Watch his rallies,” she told CBS’s Bill Whitaker when asked her response to him canceling last week.
“You’re gonna hear conversations that are about himself and all of his personal grievances. And what you will not hear is anything about you, the listener. You will not hear about how he is gonna try to bring the country together, find common ground,” she said. “And Bill, that is why I believe in my soul and heart the American people are ready to turn the page.”
CBS reported that Trump pulled out of his interview because he didn’t want to be fact-checked. He also wanted an apology for how his previous “60 Minutes” interview went with veteran CBS journalist Lesley Stahl in 2020.
That interview ended with Trump abruptly walking off the set. Trump, among other things, left after objecting to being told he was going to be asked some “tough questions.”
“That’s no way to talk. That’s no way to talk,” he said before leaving.
CBS correspondent Scott Pelley, speaking ahead of Whitaker’s filmed interview with Harris, argued that the program fact-checks “every story” it airs. Pelley also noted Trump’s past criticism of Harris when it comes to her interviews.
“Trump has said his opponent doesn’t do interviews because she can’t handle them. He had previously declined another debate with Harris, so tonight may have been the largest audience for the candidates from now until Election Day,” he said.
Support Free Journalism
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
Pelley also noted that Trump’s decision not to participate in this year’s interview broke from a decadeslong tradition.
Presidential candidates have sat for interviews with “60 Minutes″ since 1968, when former Vice President Richard Nixon ran against then-incumbent Vice President Hubert Humphrey.