Trump '60 Minutes' interview: Here's what happened

President Donald Trump returned to "60 Minutes" this weekend, his first appearance on the show since he settled a lawsuit this summer with CBS News over the newsmagazine’s interview with Kamala Harris. 

Here’s what to know about the interview: 

Trump ‘60 Minutes’ interview

The backstory:

Trump walked out of a "60 Minutes" interview with correspondent Lesley Stahl shortly before the 2020 election, complaining of bias, and his team released an unedited transcript of the conversation.

Despite invitations, he did not agree to a "60 Minutes" interview during the 2024 election campaign. But he complained that the newsmagazine’s interview with Harris, his Democratic opponent, was edited deceptively in order to make her look good.

CBS News strongly denied any wrongdoing, but Trump filed a lawsuit against the company. Paramount decided to pay Trump $16 million to settle the case this summer, shortly before the Federal Communications Commission approved Paramount’s merger with Ellison’s Skydance Media.

Presently:

CBS News offered few details Friday on how the interview came together, or whether there were any ground rules put in place. Norah O’Donnell, the former "CBS Evening News" anchor who spoke with Trump, is not one of the show’s regular correspondents.

Trump spoke with O’Donnell Friday at Mar-a-Lago on a variety of topics, ranging from the shutdown to China to immigration, for 90 minutes. The interview was edited to a 30-minute segment that aired Sunday, with CBS releasing an extended version online and making the full transcript available.  

Here’s what Trump had to say on some of the topics: 

Government shutdown

What they're saying:

Trump said he "won't be extorted" by Democrats who are demanding negotiations to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire at the end of the year for millions of Americans. Echoing congressional Republicans, the president said he'll negotiate only when the government is reopened.

Big picture view:

The shutdown is entering its sixth week and is set to become the longest ever this week. The previous record of 35 days was set in 2019, when Trump demanded Congress give him money for a U.S.-Mexico border wall.

Affordable Care Act

What they're saying:

Trump said the Affordable Care Act is "terrible" and if the Democrats vote to reopen the government, "we will work on fixing the bad health care that we have right now."

Big picture view:

Rising healthcare costs are driving the impasse between Democrats and Republicans, as Democrats are pushing to extend tax credits which have helped people purchase coverage. Otherwise, many are facing premium hikes by double digit percentages.

READ MORE: Open enrollment for Affordable Care Act plans begins

Immigration raids 

What they're saying:

When asked if he thinks some of the raids have gone too far, Trump said, "No. I think they haven’t gone far enough because we've been held back by the-- by the judges, by the liberal judges that were put in by Biden and by Obama."

Grocery prices

What they're saying:

Trump touted a high stock market and growing 401(k)s, to which O’Donnell pressed back to say that not everybody is affected by a well-performing stock market. 

"They’ve seen their grocery prices go up, inflation - " she pushed. 

"No, you’re wrong," Trump said. "They went up under Biden. Right now they’re going down." He went on to claim the exception is the cost of beef, which he said was being "worked on." 

Big picture view:

The latest consumer data available – from September and released a week late due to the government shutdown – showed grocery prices rose 0.3%, which was less than in August, but were 2.7% higher than a year ago. 

The cost of ground beef has jumped to $6.32 a pound, a record, in part because of tariffs on imports from countries such as Brazil, which faces a 50% duty. Years of drought that have reduced cattle herds have also raised prices. Beef costs rose 1.2% in September and are up 14.7% from a year earlier, the September report showed. 

READ MORE: September CPI inflation report: Which prices changed the most last month

Testing nuclear weapons

What they're saying:

Trump claimed the U.S. was the only country that doesn’t test nuclear weapons, something he wanted to change. 

"We're the only country that doesn't test, and I wanna be-- I don't wanna be the only country that doesn't test," he said. 

When asked to clarify if the U.S. would begin testing nuclear weapons, Trump said, "I'm saying that we're going to test nuclear weapons like other countries do, yes," claiming that Russia and China both test nuclear weapons. 

"You just don’t know about it," he said, saying tests happen underground.  

War with Venezuela

What they're saying:

When asked pointedly if the U.S. was going to war against Venezuela, Trump said, "I doubt it. I don’t think so."

He went on to say that he believes Nicolás Maduro’s days as president are numbered, and that he wouldn’t say if the issue of potential land strikes in Venezuela was true or untrue.

Big picture view:

In less than two months, Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth say, the U.S. military has killed at least 61 people in strikes against drug-smuggling vessels off the South American coast. There have been 14 attacks since early September. The attacks have occurred without any legal investigation or a traditional declaration of war from Congress.

Trump says the attacks are necessary to stem the flow of drugs into the U.S.

Insurrection Act

What they're saying:

When asked about sending more military into American cities, Trump said, "Well, if I wanted to I could, if I want to use the Insurrection Act." 

He went on to say how the Insurrection Act has been used by other presidents. "I haven't chosen to use it, but if I-- because I've done well without it. But if I needed it, I could do it. And if I needed it, that would mean I could bring in the Army, the Marines, I could bring in whoever I want. But I haven't chosen to use it. I hope you give me credit for that."

CBS new ownership

What they're saying:

"I see good things happening in the news. I really do. And I think one of the best things to happen is this show and new ownership, CBS and new ownership. I think it's the greatest thing that's happened in a long time to a free and open and good press," Trump said. 

Big picture view:

The president has an uneasy history with television’s most popular newsmagazine. But he has signaled friendlier relations with CBS News after the takeover of its parent company this summer by new Paramount CEO David Ellison, the son of wealthy supporter Larry Ellison.