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CBS journalist Lesley Stahl and Donald Trump during a 2016 interview
Photo: Chris Albert / AP
Two days ago, US President Donald Trump canceled an interview with the TV station CBS - now he is publishing it before the broadcast date.
He strongly condemns the interviewer's critical questions.
Trump called on Twitter to look at "the bias, the hatred and the rudeness" in the almost 38-minute conversation with the renowned CBS journalist Lesley Stahl.
The Republican also wrote that the host of the TV duel with his Democratic challenger Joe Biden, NBC journalist Kristin Welker, was "far worse".
The TV debate on Thursday evening (local time) is the second and last before the election on November 3rd.
Trump had already threatened to publish it before the broadcast date after the conversation on Tuesday.
The CBS interview for a special election issue of the program "60 Minutes" this Sunday should actually be continued with Trump and Pence.
But Trump says at the end of the recording: "I think we've had enough."
Before that, he complained to Stahl that at the beginning of the interview she said, "Are you ready for some tough questions?"
Trump said: "That's not how you speak."
Trump again complained that Biden was not being asked tough questions by the US media.
"I've seen all of his interviews. He's never been asked a question that was difficult."
Trump regularly complains that the US media are too critical of him.
He calls these media - which he accuses of spreading "fake news" - "enemies of the people".
"You are very aggressive"
Lesley Stahl to Donald Trump
There were a number of heated moments during the interview for "60 Minutes".
Trump repeatedly complained that Stahl was taking his statements out of context.
The journalist also spoke to Trump about why he was constantly in attack mode.
The president replied that he rather felt like he was defending himself and his office.
To which Stahl replied: "You are very aggressive."
The show "60 Minutes" is one of the most successful formats on US television.
The interview is said to be part of a special issue about Republican Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden this Sunday.
The 78-year-old TV journalist Stahl has been working for "60 Minutes" since 1991.
According to information from CBS, she had the first TV interview with Trump in 2016 after his election victory.
In 2018 she interviewed him again.
During a campaign appearance on Tuesday evening in Erie, Pennsylvania, Trump appeared to threaten CBS.
"You have to look at what we're doing with '60 Minutes'. You will get such a kick out of it," said the President in front of cheering supporters.
"Lesley Stahl won't be happy about it."
CBS defended its show on Thursday.
"60 Minutes" is valued for its fairness, depth and wealth of information.
The "unprecedented disregard" of the agreement between the broadcaster and the White House will not prevent CBS from broadcasting the interview as planned.
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