In a moment that blended reconciliation with confrontation, President Donald Trump sat down for his first interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes since a high-profile lawsuit settlement earlier this year. The conversation, taped at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, aired on Sunday amid a government shutdown teetering on the brink of history’s longest and just days before pivotal elections in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York City. Correspondent Norah O’Donnell pressed Trump on everything from foreign policy flashpoints to domestic controversies, including his aggressive immigration tactics and recent Justice Department indictments.
The exchange highlighted the ongoing friction between Trump and the network—once so bitter it led to lawsuits and walkouts. Yet, amid the barbs, Trump opened up on critical issues facing his second term. Here are five standout takeaways from the interview, which also touched on tariffs, rising living costs, and escalating global tensions.
1. A Nod to the Lawsuit Settlement—and Some Good-Natured Jabs
The interview kicked off with an elephant in the room: the $16 million settlement Paramount Global paid to Trump’s future presidential library after he sued over alleged editing in a 2024 interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump wasted no time referencing the payout, teasing O’Donnell about it while praising CBS’s new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss.
“And actually 60 Minutes paid me a lotta money,” Trump said with a grin. “You don’t have to put this on, because I don’t want to embarrass you.” Later, when O’Donnell sidestepped his boast about falling crime rates in Washington, D.C., he quipped again: “That’s good. You don’t have to use that one. Don’t worry. I don’t want to embarrass her.”
This marked Trump’s first CBS appearance since a stormy 2020 sit-down with Lesley Stahl, where he stormed out over questions about Hunter Biden’s laptop. It also came after he canceled a planned 2024 interview, citing “shifting explanations” from the network. The light ribbing masked deeper scars, but it set a tone of wary détente.
2. Defending Nuclear Tests: “Russia and China Are Doing It Too”
One of the interview’s most alarming moments came when Trump doubled down on his directive to resume U.S. nuclear weapons testing—the first since 1992. Facing concerns about safety and global escalation, Trump insisted the move was necessary to keep pace with adversaries.
“Russia’s testing nuclear weapons,” he claimed. “And China’s testing them, too. You just don’t know about it.” O’Donnell pushed back, noting that Russia had tested a delivery system but not warheads, calling it “very newsworthy” if true. Undeterred, Trump argued America’s transparency leaves it vulnerable: “We’re an open society. We talk about it… They don’t have reporters that gonna be writing about it. We do.”
He lumped in North Korea and Pakistan as fellow testers, framing the policy as a pragmatic response rather than provocation. The decision has split Congress, with Republicans cheering it as a strength signal and Democrats warning of renewed arms races. Trump’s comments underscore his “peace through strength” worldview, even as they risk inflaming international relations.
3. A Reluctant Nod to Andrew Cuomo in New York’s Mayoral Mess
With Election Day looming, O’Donnell probed Trump’s views on the chaotic New York City mayor’s race, where Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani leads polls over Republican Curtis Sliwa and independent ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Trump, who hasn’t formally endorsed anyone, made his leanings clear: He’d take the “bad Democrat” over a “communist” any day.
“It’s gonna be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York,” Trump said. “Because if you have a communist running New York, all you’re doing is wasting the money you’re sending there.” He admitted no love for Cuomo—”I’m not a fan one way or the other”—but positioned the choice as pragmatic: Better a flawed establishment figure than a radical overhaul.
Trump’s intervention highlights his sway in urban politics, where federal funding hangs in the balance. As voters head to the polls, his words could tip scales in a contest already rife with third-party drama.
4. Stalemate on the Shutdown: Blame Game, No Breakthrough
As the partial government shutdown edges toward a record 35 days—surpassing the 2018-2019 impasse—Trump offered scant details on resolution. Instead, he hammered Democrats for stonewalling Republican funding bills, insisting his strategy is to keep forcing votes until they cave.
“The Republicans are voting almost unanimously to end it, and the Democrats keep voting against ending it,” he said. “This has happened like 18 times before. The Democrats always voted for an extension.” Democrats, however, demand any deal include extensions for Affordable Care Act subsidies expiring year-end, which could spike premiums for millions.
Trump dangled talks on healthcare reform post-shutdown but stopped short of specifics. “We will work on fixing the bad healthcare that we have,” he said. “Right now, we have terrible healthcare and too expensive for the people.” The impasse, tied to broader fights over spending and borders, leaves federal workers unpaid and agencies in limbo, with no end in sight.
5. Unapologetic on ICE Raids and Indictments: “We Haven’t Gone Far Enough”
O’Donnell didn’t shy from Trump’s polarizing second-term moves, grilling him on ICE’s aggressive raids—like tear-gassing Chicago neighborhoods and smashing car windows—and fresh indictments against critics including ex-FBI Director James Comey, New York AG Letitia James, and John Bolton.
On immigration enforcement, Trump rejected any overreach: “No. I think they haven’t gone far enough because we’ve been held back by the judges, by the liberal judges that were put in by Biden and by Obama.” Pressed on the tactics, he was blunt: “Yeah, because you have to get the people out.”
As for the DOJ actions, Trump dismissed retribution fears, flipping the script to his own 2024 indictments: “You’re looking at a man who was indicted many times, and I had to beat the rap.” He called himself “very mild-mannered” by comparison, framing the probes as justice, not vengeance.
These defenses reveal Trump’s unyielding approach to loyalty and law enforcement, even as watchdogs raise alarms about politicizing independent institutions.
Trump’s 60 Minutes return was less a olive branch than a bold reassertion of his agenda—unfiltered, unapologetic, and aimed at rallying his base ahead of midterms. As the shutdown drags on and global stakes rise, these exchanges offer a window into a presidency as divisive as ever. With tariffs looming over trade talks and immigration raids intensifying, the coming weeks could test whether Trump’s combative style yields results or deepens divides.