The Trump campaign is calling on CBS News to release the full, unedited transcript of Vice President Kamala Harris’s recent interview on “60 Minutes.”
During the “60 Minutes” segment that aired Monday night, viewers noticed discrepancies between Harris’s answers and those previously broadcast on CBS’s “Face the Nation” the day before.
Specifically, when correspondent Bill Whitaker asked Harris why it seemed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasn’t listening to the United States, two different responses were aired.
In the “Face the Nation” preview, Harris provided a lengthy answer that some critics labeled a “word salad.”
She stated: “Well, Bill, the work that we have done has resulted in a number of movements in that region by Israel that were very much prompted by, or a result of, many things, including our advocacy for what needs to happen in the region.”
However, the version that aired on “60 Minutes” featured a more concise response:
“We are not going to stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need for this war to end.”
The alteration has raised questions about CBS’s editorial decisions.
Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaign’s national press secretary, criticized the network’s handling of the interview.
“On Sunday, 60 Minutes teased Kamala’s highly anticipated sit-down interview with one of her worst word salads to date, which received significant criticism on social media,” Leavitt said in a statement. “During the full interview on Monday evening, the word salad was deceptively edited to lessen Kamala’s idiotic response.”
Leavitt continued, “Why did 60 Minutes choose not to air Kamala’s full word salad, and what else did they choose not to air? The American people deserve the full, unedited transcript from Kamala’s sit-down interview. We call upon 60 Minutes and CBS to release it. What do they, and Kamala, have to hide?”
CBS News has not yet responded to requests for comment from Fox News and Breitbart News.
Both versions of Harris’s responses have been posted on CBS’s YouTube channel, but the network has offered no explanation for the different edits.
Conservative commentators and political pundits have seized on the issue, accusing Harris of delivering incoherent statements.
Fox News’s Jesse Watters commented on social media, “BREAKING: @KamalaHarris completely bombed her @60Minutes interview.”
Critics also pointed out perceived inconsistencies in Harris’s policy positions compared to four years ago. When asked about these changes, Harris asserted that her “values” have not shifted. The Trump campaign’s War Room account mocked her statement, suggesting that her “Marxist” values remain unchanged.
The demand for the full interview transcript comes amid ongoing debates over media transparency and the role of editing in political journalism.
Supporters of the Trump campaign argue that unedited interviews are essential for voters to make informed decisions.
“Transparency is crucial,” Leavitt emphasized. “The American people deserve to see and hear their leaders without filters or manipulation.”
As the situation develops, all eyes are on CBS to see if they will release the unedited interview in full.