Donald Trump has made it clear that he will not participate in an upcoming 60 Minutes interview unless CBS News issues a formal apology.

The former president's request for the apology stems from a 2020 interview with Leslie Stahl, in which she engaged in a heated debate with Trump and dismissed his claims about the Hunter Biden laptop as unverifiable, as the Post Millennial reports

Trump’s refusal highlights his long-standing discontent with how the network handled the controversial information about Joe Biden's son.

The origin of the dispute dates back to 2020 when intelligence experts claimed that the Hunter Biden laptop, which surfaced during the presidential campaign, was likely Russian disinformation.

CBS’s Leslie Stahl reiterated this stance during her interview with Trump, insisting that the story could not be verified, despite Trump’s assertions to the contrary.

The 2020 Laptop Controversy

During the 2020 interview, Trump accused the media, including CBS, of failing to properly investigate the Hunter Biden laptop, which contained emails and documents purportedly linking the younger Biden to questionable business deals overseas. At the time, a group of intelligence experts publicly claimed that the laptop was part of a Russian disinformation effort, a narrative Trump rejected.

Fast forward to 2023, the Hunter Biden laptop was later used as evidence in a case against him. Trump, referencing this development, has criticized CBS News for its previous stance on the issue. He now demands an apology for the network's dismissal of the story during the interview with Stahl.

Trump Campaign Withdraws from CBS Interview

Trump’s campaign initially agreed to participate in a 60 Minutes interview with Scott Pelley, continuing a long-standing tradition in which the program invites both Democratic and Republican candidates for interviews during the election season. CBS News, in a statement, confirmed that Trump had originally accepted their invitation, but has since withdrawn.

“For over half a century, 60 Minutes has invited the Democratic and Republican tickets to appear on our broadcast as Americans head to the polls,” CBS News said. “This year, both the Harris and Trump campaigns agreed to sit down with 60 Minutes.” However, Trump’s decision not to move forward with the interview followed his demand for an apology regarding their coverage of the Hunter Biden laptop story.

Trump’s Frustration with Media Conduct

In his remarks about the 2020 incident, Trump expressed his frustration over the media’s reluctance to cover the Hunter Biden laptop story seriously. He viewed it as critical information, claiming it raised concerns about whether a presidential candidate had connections to foreign governments.

"It's a very important issue to find out whether a man’s corrupt who’s running for president, who’s accepted money from China, and Ukraine, and from Russia," Trump said during the interview with Stahl. He further criticized the media for not giving the issue the attention he felt it deserved.

Trump’s 2020 Interview with Stahl

During the 2020 interview, tensions between Trump and Stahl escalated quickly. At one point, Trump pushed back against Stahl’s refusal to acknowledge the laptop's legitimacy. “Of course it can be verified,” Trump said in response to Stahl’s claims that the story couldn’t be validated.

Eventually, the interview came to an abrupt end when Trump walked out after declaring, "I think we have enough of an interview here ... That’s enough. Let’s go." This marked one of the more contentious moments between Trump and the media during his re-election campaign.

Trump Questions CBS's Editorial Judgement

Trump’s demand for an apology goes beyond the content of the interview itself. He has framed his grievance as a broader issue with how media organizations handle stories that might negatively impact Democratic figures. In his view, CBS News failed to investigate a story that, if true, had serious implications for then-presidential candidate Joe Biden.

“First, I want to get an apology,” Trump stated recently. “They said the laptop from hell was from Russia. I said it wasn’t from Russia, it was from Hunter [Biden]. They really owed me an apology.”

60 Minutes Responds to Trump’s Withdrawal

In response to Trump’s decision not to participate in the interview, CBS issued a brief statement. "After initially accepting 60 Minutes’ request for an interview with Scott Pelley, former President Trump’s campaign has decided not to participate," the network confirmed.

The move comes as Trump continues to raise concerns about media bias and the coverage of issues involving his political opponents. His remarks in Milwaukee, just before the vice-presidential debate, made it clear that he intends to keep the issue in the public eye.

Conclusion

Donald Trump’s refusal to appear on 60 Minutes without a public apology from CBS underscores his ongoing dispute with the network over its handling of the Hunter Biden laptop story.

What began as a contentious interview in 2020 has now evolved into a broader criticism of how media organizations cover stories that involve political figures. As the 2024 election season heats up, this clash highlights the tense relationship between Trump and the mainstream media.

Whether CBS News will address his demand remains uncertain, but the controversy surrounding the Hunter Biden laptop continues to shape the political narrative.