Trump’s 60 Minutes Return Shatters Ratings Records

President Donald Trump’s interview on 60 Minutes attracted the program’s largest audience in years. The broadcast drew 14 million viewers last Sunday. This marks the show’s highest same-day viewership since January 2021.

The interview, conducted by Norah O’Donnell, was edited from a 90-minute session. CBS News also released an extended version online. According to Reuters, the figure far exceeds the show’s current season average.

Massive NFL Lead-In Boosts Audience Numbers

The record-setting episode benefited from a huge NFL lead-in. CBS’s broadcast of the Buffalo Bills versus Kansas City Chiefs game drew 30.84 million viewers. This was the second-largest NFL audience of the season so far.

The previous season high for 60 Minutes was 11.1 million viewers. That episode also followed a highly-watched football game. The synergy between live sports and news programming remains incredibly powerful for networks.

Digital Engagement and Legal Precedent

Beyond traditional television, the interview generated significant online traffic. CBS reports the segment has amassed 144.9 million views across its social platforms. This digital engagement highlights the evolving nature of news consumption.

The broadcast carried extra significance due to a recent legal settlement. President Trump had previously sued CBS over an edited 2020 interview with Kamala Harris. The network settled that lawsuit for $16 million, though it did not admit fault. As part of the resolution, CBS News now publishes full transcripts of presidential candidate interviews.

The massive turnout for the Trump interview underscores his continued ability to command a national audience. This ratings success demonstrates significant public interest in his perspectives. The 60 Minutes appearance has set a new benchmark for news magazine viewership.

Thought you’d like to know

How many people watched the Trump 60 Minutes interview?

The interview attracted 14 million same-day viewers according to Nielsen data. This is the largest audience for the program in several years. It significantly outperformed the show’s season average.

What was the reason for the recent lawsuit between Trump and CBS?

President Trump sued over a 2020 interview with Kamala Harris, alleging unfair editing. The case was settled for $16 million earlier this year. CBS News lawyers had argued the editing was standard journalistic practice.

Did the NFL game affect the 60 Minutes ratings?

Yes, a highly-viewed NFL game preceded the news program. The Bills-Chiefs matchup drew over 30 million viewers. This provided a massive audience lead-in for the Trump interview.

What changed at CBS News after the lawsuit settlement?

The network now publishes full transcripts of interviews with presidential candidates. This was part of the agreement to settle the legal dispute. However, CBS did not issue a formal apology.

How did the interview perform on digital platforms?

CBS reports it garnered nearly 145 million views across social media. This includes views on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and X. The metric counts any watch time longer than one second.