Following President Donald Trump's highly anticipated interview with
60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl, the accomplished journalist is getting
mixed reviews for her showdown with the face of the Republican party.
During the interview, which aired on October 25th, 2020, Trump walked out
during the question-and-answer session after being displeased with Stahl's inquiries.
"I think we have enough of an interview here, Hope. Okay, that's enough. Let's go, let's go."
After the interview, Trump shared a video criticizing the journalist
for not wearing a mask in the White House and later tweeted:
"I will soon be giving a first in television history full,
unedited preview of the vicious attempted 'takeout' interview of me
by Lesley Stahl of @60Minutes. Watch her constant interruptions & anger.
Compare my full, flowing and 'magnificently brilliant' answers to their 'Q's.'"
The president also explained on Twitter why he wanted to release footage of the
full interview prior to the 60 Minutes air date...
"This will be done so that everybody can
get a glimpse of what a FAKE and BIASED interview is all about..."
Before his final debate with Democratic nominee Joe Biden, Trump followed through
and leaked the interview on Facebook for, as he says, "the sake of accuracy in reporting."
The video only shows a single angle of Trump from a White House camera.
According to NBC News, officials from the White House and CBS News
agreed the footage would only be used for archival purposes.
Despite the president's attempt to highlight inaccuracies in the interview, some social
media users thought Stahl's performance was spot-on, especially during some tense exchanges.
“You used to have bigger rallies."
"No, these are much bigger than I've ever had."
"Okay, I don't want to bicker over that."
"You know, you're so negative. You're so negative. These are the biggest rallies we've ever had."
Many people thought the journalist presented a cool and collected front while President Trump
became increasingly frustrated, culminating in his walking out of the interview. Others
said she did a great job at demonstrating Trump's disconnect with suburban women.
Following the interview, one Twitter user wrote…
"She did an amazing job. She gave [...] him [a] great opportunity to be the best,
and what he did? He was evasive as always. If we had a real leader and communicator he would take
that interview as a chance and [a] moment for his reelection. He would argue with knowledge. #VOTE."
Another social media user shared a clip from the interview where Trump
chastised Stahl for informing him that she will be asking him tough questions.
"Your first statement was 'Are you ready for tough questions?'"
"Are you?"
"That's no way to talk. That's no way to talk."
The Twitter user wrote in her tweet:
"This was Trump's epic meltdown on 60 Minutes and it was even worse than reported.
Trump literally ran away because he didn't like the questions."
In responding to that post, another Twitter user added…
"This is why us suburban women can’t stand him.
He reminds us of all the men that talked down on us and bullied us throughout our lives.
We are disgusted. Makes us appreciate the kindness and gentleness in dignified respectful men."
However, other Twitter users found Stahl's questions to be too tough in comparison to
Joe Biden's 60 Minutes interview with journalist Norah O'Donnell.
"If elected, you would be the oldest president in American history."
"But I'm in good shape."
Correspondent Bill O'Reilly shared his opinion about both interviews on Twitter…
"Here's a fair assessment of the 60 Minutes interviews. Lesley Stahl asked President Trump
a series of 'you are screwing up' questions. Norah O'Donnell asked Biden open-ended questions where
he was not on the defensive as Mr. Trump was and could give non-specific answers."
Another person on Twitter wrote...
"@60Minutes and those who are anti-Trump thought they had a little win with the
abandoned interview, but I honestly believe they've done themselves a
greater disservice. [...] Lesley Stahl […] came across as poor and inept."
Acknowledging the interview wasn't great for either party, the user added:
"Trump didn't look great, he should've kept his cool and completed it. [...] That said,
I think Stahl and 60 Minutes came across worse and will feed into the
narrative of a bias[ed] media - which a lot of people already think there is."
Despite the criticism Stahl received following the interview, CBS News was confident in her
abilities. After the president released his footage early, 60 Minutes tweeted the following...
"Few journalists have the presidential interview experience Lesley Stahl has
delivered over her decades as one of the premier correspondents in America."
Also, in their statement, the show and network explained why
they decided to air the interview, saying that:
"60 Minutes [...] is widely respected for bringing its hallmark fairness,
deep reporting and informative context to viewers each week."
Of course, Trump would probably insist that he was just fighting back during the interview.
"If you don't fight back, you're not sitting here very long. You go back home.
You go back home to Mommy."
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