President Donald Trump once again showed why he dominates the political stage, effortlessly shutting down a loaded question from CBS’s Norah O’Donnell during his interview for “60 Minutes.” The exchange, filmed at Mar-a-Lago, came as part of a wide-ranging discussion on the government shutdown, China, and immigration policy.

It marked Trump’s first sit-down with CBS since his legal victory against the network, which paid him a $16 million settlement over its edited interview with Kamala Harris during the 2024 election. That scandal cost CBS its credibility, but the network has recently tried to rehabilitate its image under new leadership from Bari Weiss.

Despite the change, Trump didn’t back down from O’Donnell’s aggressive line of questioning.

President Donald Trump says Taiwan "never even came up" when he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his trip to Asia last week.

When @NorahODonnell asks about his plan if China invades Taiwan, the president tells 60 Minutes: "I can't give away my secrets." pic.twitter.com/L6GweX0KWx

— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) November 2, 2025

“What are you doing as president to end the shutdown?” O’Donnell asked.

Trump calmly responded that the issue wasn’t his to solve alone — pointing out that Senate Democrats are the ones blocking efforts to reopen the government.

The question came as Democrats continue to oppose a Republican-led continuing resolution that would temporarily fund the government. Trump has repeatedly called on Senate Democrats to “stop holding America hostage” and vote to pass the bill that has already cleared the House.

The CBS host then shifted to foreign policy, pressing Trump about China and Taiwan.

“Would you order U.S. forces to defend Taiwan if China attacked?” she asked.

Trump didn’t take the bait.

He said that China “understands what would happen if they did that” and refused to go further, adding that he would not reveal “any secrets.”

His answer was firm but measured — a reminder of how Trump used strength and unpredictability to keep adversaries like China and Russia in check during his first term.

While CBS promoted the interview as part of a new era under Weiss, early clips showed the same familiar pattern of journalists trying to corner Trump. But this time, he didn’t give them the viral “gotcha” moment they wanted.

Instead, he used their own questions to expose the weakness of their assumptions — whether it was about the shutdown or U.S. military strategy.

O’Donnell’s tone grew tense as Trump kept control of the conversation. He avoided the media traps and made his points clearly, emphasizing that his administration’s priorities remain focused on border security, restoring American jobs, and defending U.S. interests abroad.

The former president also discussed his recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the situation in Venezuela, and U.S.-Israel relations — signaling a continued focus on strength through diplomacy and deterrence.

While full details of the interview will air later, the preview clips already caused a stir online. Trump supporters praised his composure and quick wit, while critics on the left blasted CBS for even giving him airtime.

Some liberal commentators blamed Bari Weiss for what they called a “platforming” of Trump, arguing that it legitimized him. But CBS insiders say the network is trying to rebuild trust with viewers after years of slanted coverage.

Trump, for his part, seemed unfazed by the backlash.

He has long said that he’s willing to appear on any network — friendly or hostile — because he’s confident in his ability to “tell the truth directly to the American people.”

And once again, when confronted with bias, he didn’t just hold his own — he turned the tables and left his critics speechless.