Trump’s Presence on ’60 Minutes’ Alarms Guests, Causing Last-Minute Scramble

The latest episode of CBS’s flagship program, 60 Minutes, recently sparked discomfort among its guests due to Donald Trump’s increasing influence. Under the leadership of Bari Weiss, CBS faces challenges attracting guests willing to publicly criticize Trump, especially following controversial political moves.

Trump’s Controversial Pardon

This week’s episode highlighted Trump’s decision to pardon Changpeng Zhao, the founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance. Critics have condemned the pardon as an act of “corruption.” The Justice Department had accused Zhao of jeopardizing U.S. national security.

The pardon followed a $2 billion partnership between Binance and a Trump family venture, raised by many as a serious conflict of interest. Despite this, numerous individuals involved in the pardon process chose not to appear on-camera, citing fears of retaliation.

Concerns Over Retaliation

Scott Pelley, the host of 60 Minutes, acknowledged that many key players refused interviews for this reason. Elizabeth Oyer, the former head of pardons at the Justice Department, was among the few willing to speak. She expressed dismay at the current state of democracy, suggesting that the pardon power is being misused.

• Oyer was fired in March after refusing to approve a request regarding domestic battery convict Mel Gibson.
• She stated, “This president appears to be selling off pieces of our democracy.”

White House Response

In response to Oyer’s statements, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson defended the pardon process. She emphasized that the President ultimately decides on pardon requests and implied that Oyer’s perspective was misguided.

The Impact of Bari Weiss’s Appointment

Weiss’s recent appointment as editor-in-chief has added to CBS’s challenges. Under the leadership of Trump-friendly CEO David Ellison, CBS has faced criticism for appearing to align closely with the former president’s agenda.

During a recent interview with anchor Norah O’Donnell, Trump praised Weiss, indicating his approval of her leadership. However, CBS later edited out sections of the interview that included Trump’s comments on the backlash from Zhao’s pardon.

CBS’s Financial and Regulatory Shifts

Regulatory approval followed a significant financial transaction wherein CBS paid Trump $16 million to resolve a lawsuit related to the editing of a previous interview. Weiss, who previously resigned from the New York Times under contentious circumstances, has continued to make headlines since her appointment.

• Weiss launched a Substack site, The Free Press, which has published provocative articles.
• Her recent acquisition of The Free Press for $150 million prompted significant staff cuts and programming changes.

As CBS News navigates these turbulent waters, the increasing presence of Trump and the perceived compromise of editorial independence continue to stir controversy among journalists and viewers alike.