Mon Nov 03 15:25:36 UTC 2025: News Article:
Trump Returns to ’60 Minutes’ After Contentious Settlement, Addresses Key Issues
WASHINGTON – In his first appearance since abruptly ending an interview in 2020, President Donald Trump sat down with CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell for “60 Minutes” on Sunday. The interview comes just months after Trump secured a $16 million settlement from CBS owner Paramount over what he alleged was “deceptive editing” of an interview with then-candidate Kamala Harris during the 2024 election.
The wide-ranging discussion, filmed at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, covered a variety of pressing topics, including the ongoing government shutdown, immigration enforcement, the resumption of nuclear testing, and the US trade relationship with China.
Trump defended his administration’s policies and actions on each front. He downplayed concerns regarding China’s potential actions towards Taiwan, referenced past assurances from President Xi Jinping, and stated he would not reveal his military secrets. He also claimed a favorable trade agreement with China eliminates the threat of rare-earth mineral restrictions, despite Beijing’s ongoing restrictions on key rare-earth metals.
The president also addressed the controversial pardon of cryptocurrency entrepreneur Changpeng Zhao, founder of Binance, claiming ignorance of Zhao and describing him as a victim of a “witch hunt” by the Biden administration. This despite Binance’s connections to the Trump family’s cryptocurrency company, World Liberty Financial, raising conflict of interest concerns. This connection was only revealed in the full transcript of the interview, however, and not featured in the televised cut.
Defending the decision to resume nuclear testing, Trump accused Russia and China of similar actions without public acknowledgement. He also asserted the US-negotiated ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was “very solid,” despite recent violence, and stated the US would force Hamas to disarm.
On the domestic front, Trump blamed Democrats for the prolonged government shutdown and stated he would not negotiate with them. He warned of dire consequences if the Supreme Court struck down his tariff policies and reiterated his support for aggressive immigration enforcement, criticizing judges he believes are hindering those efforts.
Finally, regarding the upcoming New York City mayoral race, Trump voiced his opposition to democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani, labeling him a “communist.”
This “60 Minutes” appearance marks a significant moment in Trump’s relationship with CBS News, following the contentious settlement and his previous walk-out. The interview offers a glimpse into the president’s current thinking on a range of critical issues facing the nation and the world.
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