Trump is fighting back. He’s sick of the unfair coverage he’s received from the mainstream media.
And Donald Trump slams this Leftist news outlet with one ultimatum they never saw coming.
Former President Donald Trump has made it clear that the only way he would agree to sit down for a 60 Minutes interview is if CBS News issues a formal apology for the way journalist Leslie Stahl handled the infamous 2020 interview. During that interview, Stahl dismissed the Hunter Biden laptop story, arguing it “could not be verified.”
However, the narrative around the laptop has shifted dramatically since 2020. In June of this year, the laptop was introduced as evidence in legal proceedings against Hunter Biden.
Back in 2020, a letter signed by numerous intelligence officials claimed the story was likely “Russian disinformation,” a claim that led to the story being suppressed. The letter’s origins have since been traced back to efforts by the CIA, which solicited the signatures of these officials.
During a recent event in Milwaukee, Trump made it clear that the Stahl interview remains a sore spot.
Speaking just before the vice-presidential debate between his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), and Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), Trump told the New York Post that he hasn’t forgotten or forgiven what happened during that interview.
“First, I want to get an apology,” Trump stated when asked why he declined the 60 Minutes interview that was set to air Monday night. “They said the laptop from hell was from Russia. I said it wasn’t from Russia, it was from Hunter [Biden]. They really owed me an apology.”
CBS News, in response, released a statement, confirming that Trump had initially agreed to the interview before backing out.
“After initially accepting 60 Minutes’ request for an interview with Scott Pelley, former President Trump’s campaign has decided not to participate,” the network said.
They emphasized their tradition of offering both Democratic and Republican candidates airtime ahead of elections.
The 2020 Stahl interview had been contentious from the outset. Trump accused CBS News of conducting a “softball” interview with then-candidate Joe Biden, lacking the rigor and tough questions that he believed were warranted.
At one point, Trump even brought up a sensitive issue from his presidency, accusing the Obama administration of spying on his campaign, a claim that had long been a point of contention.
But the real sticking point for Trump was the Hunter Biden laptop story. In that interview, he passionately argued that the story should be taken seriously, as it could reveal potential corruption involving then-presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter.
“It’s a very important issue to find out whether a man’s corrupt who’s running for president, who’s accepted money from China, and Ukraine, and from Russia,” Trump had said. “Take a look at what’s going on, Leslie, and you say that shouldn’t be discussed?… I think it’s one of the biggest scandals I’ve ever seen, and you don’t cover it.”
Stahl, however, pushed back, stating that the story “could not be verified.” Trump, visibly frustrated, countered, “Of course it can be verified,” adding that a laptop had been found. Despite his insistence, Stahl reiterated her position.
The interview ended abruptly, with Trump walking out after their heated exchange. “I think we have enough of an interview here… That’s enough. Let’s go,” Trump said, signaling his exit.
As Trump gears up for the 2024 presidential election, it’s clear that he’s still immensely frustrated with the media’s coverup of the Hunter Biden laptop saga.
And until CBS News offers the apology he’s seeking, it appears unlikely that viewers will see him on 60 Minutes anytime soon.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
