CNN said its recent interview with Vice President Harris and her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.), was not edited despite allegations that it was spliced and shortened.
A theory online among former President Trump’s supporters began to spread late this week that the 27-minute interview that aired was originally 41 minutes long, meaning a large chunk of it was edited out.
“Is there any world in which @CNN would tape an interview with @realDonaldTrump and edit it for broadcast to remove any inconsistencies, mistakes, or controversial statements?” Trump supporter and billionaire Bill Ackman said in a now-deleted post on X, Mediaite highlighted.
CNN confirmed to The Hill that the interview, which aired Thursday, aired in its entirety.
At the start of the program, CNN’s Dana Bash emphasized that the full interview would air. Trump and his allies criticized CNN for pre-taping the interview instead of airing it live, as a way for the network to cover up a potential slip-up from Harris.
The interview was seen as a high-stakes moment for Harris.
Harris had been criticized recently for not appearing before the media enough and only speaking in front of a teleprompter. The interview this week provided her a chance to think on her feet and respond to questions in the moment.
Harris largely emerged from the interview unscathed, having no major gaffes or major news after the event.
She addressed the GOP criticism that her policy positions had changed since she ran for president in 2020, saying her “values” have not changed. Harris talked about the need to tackle climate change but largely avoided the politics behind fracking.
When asked about Trump’s comments about her race, she brushed it aside saying it’s the same “old, tired playbook,” asking Bash to move on to the next question. Trump criticized Harris after her interview, calling her “defective.”
