Trump '60 Minutes' Interview Highlights: Key Comments By President Before Midterm Elections

Just days before the midterm election, President Donald Trump agreed to be interviewed by journalist Lesley Stahl on “60 Minutes,” which was aired Sunday.

While Trump is known to frequent Fox News, he opted for an interview on CBS this time, opening up about an array of topics including climate change, North Korea, Russia, White House politics and so on.

The following are a few highlights from Trump’s “60 Minutes” interview:

Climate change

Stahl started off the interview with the topic of “climate change,” which seemed apt in the wake of Hurricane Michael wreaking havoc in the Florida Panhandle, Georgia and parts of the Carolinas last week.

“I think something's happening. Something's changing and it'll change back again. I don't think it's a hoax, I think there's probably a difference. But I don't know that it's manmade. I will say this. I don't wanna give trillions and trillions of dollars. I don't wanna lose millions and millions of jobs. I don't wanna be put at a disadvantage,” the POTUS said.

When Stahl pressed on, saying that had talked about the dangers of climate change, Trump said while he was not denying climate change, he refused to believe it was a phenomenon created by human beings and instead was something that would have happened regardless of the activities of men.

North Korea

Trump also boasted about his achievements, one of the biggest ones being the improving diplomatic relations between the United States and North Korea.

“I think it was going to end up in war… Nobody's ever heard rhetoric that tough. We were going to war with North Korea. Now, you don't hear that. You don't hear any talk of it. And he doesn't wanna go to war, and we don't wanna go to war, and he understands denuclearization and he's agreed to it. And you see that, he's agreed to it. No missiles,” he said.

However, when asked whether there was any truth to Pyongyang building more missiles instead of getting rid of the nuclear weapons they already possess, the president said he assumed that it was correct but the fact that they were closing down nuclear sites and have not carried out any missile testing since the U.S.-North Korea summit in June, was promising.

Jeff Sessions, James Mattis

After US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley announced her surprise resignation from the Trump administration last week, people have been wondering who will be the next to leave. During the interview, Trump dropped major hints on who might be on their way out next — Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Secretary Of Defense James Mattis.

Regarding Sessions’ possible exit, Trump said: “I was disappointed that he recused himself and many people think I was right on that. I was very disappointed. Why should he have recused himself? So I was very disappointed but we'll see what happens.”

He took a similar tone while talking about Mattis, even suggesting at one point that the latter’s ideologies aligned more with the rival political party.

“I have a very good relationship with him. It could be that he is. I think he's sort of a Democrat, if you wanna know the truth. But General Mattis is a good guy. We get along very well. He may leave. I mean, at some point, everybody leaves. Everybody. People leave. That's Washington,” he said.

Vladimir Putin and Russian meddling

Trump also refused to acknowledge the relationship between him and Russian President Vladimir Putin that the media had painted, which emphasized the lack of harsh rhetoric adopted by the president against the Kremlin.

“I'm the one that gave Ukraine offensive weapons and tank killers. [Former President Barack] Obama didn't. You know what he sent? He sent pillows and blankets… I think I'm very tough with him personally,” he said.

However, the president kept on filibustering on the question of whether Russia meddled in the 2016 U.S. election. After suggesting that “China meddled also,” Trump added, “Do you really think I'd call Russia to help me with an election? Give me a break.”

He also refused to pledge he will not shut down the Russian investigation headed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

Dr. Christine Blasey Ford

The president also shut down questions about how many thought his treatment of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, who had accused the-then Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, was disrespectful.

Following her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Ford admitted she was haunted by Kavanaugh and his friend laughing at her during the alleged assault, Trump mimicked her at a campaign rally in Mississippi, making fun of how she did not remember crucial details from the night she claimed to have been attacked, while the crowd laughed.

“W-- you know what? I'm not gonna get into it because we won. It doesn't matter. We won,” he said. Trump insisted he did not make fun of her at the rally and that he treated Ford with respect.