The CBS news program has announced that former President Donald Trump has withdrawn from an anticipated interview for its prime-time election special set to air next week.
“For over half a century, our program has invited both Democratic and Republican candidates to participate as Americans prepare to vote,” the statement revealed. “This year, both the Harris and Trump campaigns had initially committed to interviews.”
According to the announcement, after initially agreeing to an interview with Scott Pelley, Trump’s campaign has opted not to participate.
The election special is still scheduled to air Monday at 8 p.m. ET, featuring an interview between Vice President Harris and correspondent Bill Whitaker.
Despite Trump’s withdrawal, the invitation for him to be interviewed remains valid.
Trump’s campaign spokesperson quickly responded, disputing the narrative presented by the program, labeling it “fake news.” He claimed that the show had repeatedly requested an interview and insisted that “nothing was ever scheduled or locked in.” Additionally, he mentioned the program’s proposal for live fact-checking as unprecedented.
This isn’t the first time Trump has faced challenges with the program; he previously ended an interview in 2020 due to frustration over tough questioning from correspondent Lesley Stahl regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues.
The Harris campaign criticized Trump’s decision, with senior adviser David Plouffe asserting that Trump is “afraid” of facing the debate stage and the program. Plouffe suggested that Trump’s recent inflammatory rhetoric demonstrated a reluctance to step outside his comfort zone.
Trump appeared to reference his rally comments where he made disparaging remarks about Harris and suggested harsh treatment for criminals.
The upcoming prime-time special represented one of the final opportunities for voters to see both Trump and Harris ahead of Election Day. While the Harris campaign has requested a second debate, Trump’s team has yet to respond.
Additionally, Tuesday night’s debate between vice presidential candidates Tim Walz and JD Vance marks the last debate on the schedule.
