CBS News has announced that the upcoming "60 Minutes" election special will feature Vice President Kamala Harris as the sole interviewee, following former President Donald Trump's decision not to participate. The program, scheduled for Monday, October 7, 2024, deviates from its traditional format of presenting back-to-back interviews with both presidential contenders.
"60 Minutes," America's longest-running prime-time television program since its debut in 1968, has been a staple of political coverage for decades. Known for its investigative journalism and hard-hitting interviews, the show has garnered 106 Emmy Awards as of 2023, contributing to CBS News' status as the most Emmy-awarded news organization.
The Trump campaign disputes CBS's claim that they initially agreed to the interview. Campaign spokesman Steven Cheung stated, "Fake news," asserting that while discussions occurred, no commitment was made. CBS maintains that the invitation for Trump to appear remains open, with correspondent Scott Pelley set to address the former president's absence during the broadcast.
Vice President Harris, who made history in 2021 as the first woman, African American, and Asian American to hold the office, will be interviewed by Bill Whitaker, a "60 Minutes" correspondent since 2014. This special marks a significant moment in the 2024 election cycle, as it represents one of the few opportunities for voters to gain insights into the candidates' positions and personalities.
The absence of Trump from this program echoes the contentious nature of his previous "60 Minutes" interview in 2020 with veteran correspondent Lesley Stahl, which ended prematurely. That incident highlighted the often tense relationship between the former president and the media.
Presidential debates have been a cornerstone of American electoral politics since 1960, with the Commission on Presidential Debates organizing these events since 1987. However, the 2024 election cycle has seen limited opportunities for direct comparison between the candidates. The only debate between Harris and Trump took place on September 10, 2024, with no confirmed plans for future encounters.
"Our invitation to sit for an interview still stands, and correspondent Scott Pelley will explain Trump's absence to viewers."
The "60 Minutes" election special's unusual Monday airing is due to CBS's broadcast of the American Music Awards on Sunday. The AMA, created by Dick Clark in 1973, is one of the three biggest music awards shows in the United States, underscoring the complex scheduling demands of network television.
As the election approaches, CBS News continues its political coverage, hosting the vice presidential debate between Republican Ohio Senator JD Vance, author of the bestselling memoir "Hillbilly Elegy," and Minnesota's Democratic Governor Tim Walz on October 1, 2024. This debate follows the tradition of vice presidential debates, which began in 1976.
The unfolding situation with the "60 Minutes" special reflects the evolving landscape of political media engagement and the challenges faced by news organizations in providing comprehensive coverage of presidential campaigns in an increasingly polarized environment.