Staff Reports
CBS’ “60 Minutes” finds itself in a tizzy after Donald Trump decided to bow out of a pre-scheduled interview for their upcoming election special. This sudden change of heart came just before the vice presidential debate, and naturally, the network’s producers couldn’t hide their disappointment. They took to social media to express their grievances, making it clear that the former president’s refusal has ruffled their feathers.
Despite having initially agreed to appear, Trump has now made it clear that he would only resume discussions about the interview if CBS offers an apology over their past coverage of the Hunter Biden laptop saga. The network, meanwhile, has attempted to maintain an air of high-mindedness, insisting they have a long-standing tradition of presenting a fair platform for both Democratic and Republican candidates. This self-proclaimed impartiality, however, feels more like a thinly veiled attempt to bolster the image of their favored politicians.
REPORTER: "Explain your reasoning" for not doing an interview with 60 Minutes.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: "First, I would like to get an apology — They said the laptop from hell was from Russia. And I said it wasn't from Russia, it was from Hunter." pic.twitter.com/BSFRuCSwwS
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 1, 2024
The absurdity of claiming unbiased coverage is evident to anyone who witnessed Trump’s last appearance on “60 Minutes.” During that 2020 interview, a stern-faced Lesley Stahl confronted him repeatedly about the Biden laptop story. The discussion devolved into a farce as Stahl insisted the story should not be reported due to lack of verification—an ironic stance given the media’s eagerness to peddle unverified gossip against Trump. History has shown that this kind of hostile, one-sided interviewing is typical of CBS News, where objectivity is clearly an old relic.
Fast-forward to the present, and it’s clear that the media landscape has only worsened. With a hyper-partisan approach dominating coverage of both presidential and vice presidential debates, voters are left to wonder if there are any true journalists left. The behavior of CBS News has proven time and again that the corporate media is not to be trusted when it comes to fair reporting on conservative figures. The outcry from CBS over Trump’s absence is merely more evidence of their apparent distress over losing their grip on the narrative.
By insisting on an apology regarding the laptop controversy, Trump is setting a precedent for future Republican candidates. There’s no obligation for conservatives to engage with a media platform known for its bias and manipulation. It’s time for the GOP to take a stand, demand accountability from the press, and choose more productive avenues to reach voters. Trump’s refusal to entertain CBS until they rectify their past misdeeds is a call to arms for conservatives—it’s time to stop allowing the media to dictate the terms of engagement.
