Donald Trump criticized Scott Pelley after he was recently fired from CBS for an alleged heated interaction with new executive producer Nick Bilton. It happened during a 60 Minutes staff meeting. In the letter released to announce Pelley’s sacking, Bilton accused him of interrupting the meeting to belittle him and his caliber in front of the staff.
Donald Trump criticized Scott Pelley before his 60 Minutes exit
During a conversation with Pod Force One with Miranda Devine, Trump shared bold comments against Pelley ahead of his termination from CBS. He said, “I think Scott Pelley’s got his own problems. He’s terrible. Look, Scott Pelley’s a stiff, and he’s afraid, and he’s part of this, you know, gang of crooked, stupid people that don’t care about our country.”
According to earlier reports, Pelley and Bilton allegedly clashed in a tense staff meeting at 60 Minutes, which resulted in the former’s sacking. Bilton accused the longtime journalist of “ambush,” “hostility,” and “misconduct.”
In the letter signed by Bilton, it was revealed that Pelley’s termination is effective immediately, before claiming that the broadcast journalist rejected his introduction and attacked him instead. “Yesterday, you hijacked my first meeting with staff to disparage me, my qualifications, and my intentions with remarkable incivility and contempt,” he added.
Bilton also accused Pelley of showing no interest in contributing to the future of the show. He stated that he himself is focused on first-in-class news programming and is uninterested in any kind of newsroom drama. He further expressed enthusiasm to work with those who share the same goal as him. “Your antipathy to the future of the show has come through loud and clear. And I have heard you,” he continued (via PEOPLE).
Scott Pelley has been associated with CBS since 1989, initially involved in covering national affairs and war. He then contributed to 60 Minutes, 60 Minutes II, and CBS Evening News.
