Joe Biden and Donald Trump will appear on this Sunday’s 60 Minutes. Friday, CBS News released clips from both interviews.
In the interview with the former Vice President, Norah O’Donnell pressed Biden on whether he would “stack the courts.” Here’s what Biden said:
“If elected, what I will do is I’ll put together a national commission of — bipartisan commission of scholars, constitutional scholars, Democrats, Republicans, liberal, conservative. And I will ask them to over 180 days come back to me with recommendations as to how to reform the court system because it’s getting out of whack — the way in which it’s being handled and it’s not about court packing. There’s a number of other things that our constitutional scholars have debated and I’ve looked to see what recommendations that commission might make.”
Watch more of @NorahODonnell's interview with Joe Biden, Sunday. pic.twitter.com/wJmb8MatVg
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 22, 2020
As for Trump, he was unhappy with questions relating to coronavirus (among other things). Here’s what happened when Stahl asking Trump who he thought was our biggest foreign adversary:
“I would say China. They’re an adversary. They’re a competitor. They’re a foe in many ways, but they’re an adversary. I think what happened was disgraceful, should never have happened … They should never have allowed this plague to get out of China and go throughout the world. 188 countries. Should never have happened.”
WATCH: President Trump was asked by @LesleyRStahl about his priorities — before cutting his interview short.@60Minutes has a history of asking tough questions of presidential candidates during the run-up to the election.
More Sunday on @CBS. pic.twitter.com/ZWxP1B7GvO
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) October 22, 2020
In an unprecedented twisted, Trump also made good on a threat to release what he says is the full interview. He posted it on his Facebook page. The video he is referencing was apparently taken by a government videographer for archival purposes only. In other words, on the same day that he should be preparing to debate his opponent in their final debate, he is instead weaponizing & politicizing an interview, positioning himself against a highly respected member of the media. Of the video, Trump wrote it is an “unedited preview of the vicious attempted “takeout interview of me by Lesley Stahl.” Trump apparently thought releasing the interview would make him look like a victim, but the reaction likely isn’t what he hoped for. Here’s how the video starts:
Stahl: Are you ready for tough questions?
Trump: You are going to be fair… Just be fair.
Stahl: But last time I remember you saying to me, bring it on.
Trump: “No, I’m not looking for that…”
Stahl: “…But you’re OK with some tough questions?”
Trump: “No, I’m not.”
The thing about this interview is that Trump is just saying nonsense and Stahl is pointing out calmly that it is nonsense.
She is no more combative than, say, @jonathanvswan, whom Trump said did a good interview.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) October 22, 2020
Trump lied repeatedly throughout the 60 Minutes interview on COVID, crowd sizes, health care, etc. Stahl pushed him and fact-checked him which is why he's upset.
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) October 22, 2020
OK, I am about halfway through this Trump interview with Lesley Stahl that he released and I'm trying to figure out how the White House thinks this benefits Trump in any way….
— Susan Glasser (@sbg1) October 22, 2020
Trump eventually cut the interview short.
In the footage he released of his 60 Minutes interview, Trump complains about getting tough questions and Lesley Stahl reminds him that he is president of the United States. Trump eventually quits the interview and won't go on. pic.twitter.com/qdCHbK1aYc
— American Journal News (@AmerJournalNews) October 22, 2020
And here’s how 60 Minutes is responding.
CBS News statement on @60Minutes interview with President Trump pic.twitter.com/Ivz9NBiU6r
— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 22, 2020
Watch more from CBS This Morning above.