Donald Trump 60 Minutes interview: US President’s nuclear threat, Russia timeline, Government shutdown claim

US President Donald Trump has sat down with the US version of 60 Minutes for a remarkable interview filled with threats to other countries, and his own country.

Mr Trump returned to 60 Minutes for the first time in five years. In his last interview with the US program, he walked out, accusing the reporter of bias. Since then, Mr Trump has also launched legal action against the network that airs 60 Minutes, CBS, claiming a 2024 interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris has been inappropriately edited to “tip the scales in favour of the Democratic Party”

That case has since been settled for $US16 million ($24 million).

Speaking with contributing correspondent Norah O’Donnell, Mr Trump first addressed the US-China relationship, following his recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“Well, first of all, we get along great, and we always really have. We had the COVID moment, which was not attractive as far as I was concerned. I wasn’t so happy. But outside of that, we have always had a great relationship. He’s a powerful man. He’s a strong man, a very powerful leader,” Mr Trump said.

Asked if he got the deal he wanted, Mr Trump said “sort of”.

“We got no rare earth threat. That’s gone, completely gone. We have tremendous amounts of dollars pouring in, ‘cause we have very big tariffs, almost 50 per cent.”

Mr Trump said “billions and billions of dollars” were coming in from China. He noted that US citizens, including farmers, had felt “temporary” pain from his negotiations with China, but claimed the Asian powerhouse country had been “ripping us off” for years.

‘The nuclear option’: Donald Trump’s threats

Mr Trump spoke about two nuclear threats in her arsenal: nuclear weapons which he has authorised testing of, and a ”nuclear option” to reopen to US Government.

“I’m saying that were going to test nuclear weapons like other countries do.

“Russia’s testing nuclear weapons. China’s testing them too. You just don’t know about it.

O’Donnell pushed back on the US President claims, that neither China or Russia were conducting tests of nuclear weapons, instead, testing missile systems which could be used for nuclear weapons.

As for the US Government shutdown, Mr Trump said he would not be “extorted by the Democrats who have lost their way”.

Asked how he would solve this issue, Mr Trump said: “We should do the nuclear option, this is a totally different nuclear by the way.”

That option, as Mr Trump said, is ending the filibuster.

A filibuster, as the US Senate defines it, is a “Informal term for any attempt to block or delay Senate action on a bill or other matter by debating it at length, by offering numerous procedural motions, or by any other delaying or obstructive actions”.

If Mr Trump attempted to kill the filibuster, he would essentially look for a majority vote on the bill, in the case, budget spending, and prevent minority debate.

If Mr Trump successfully killed the filibuster, which he likely does not have the support to achieve, it could set a new precedent in US politics, potentially later arming Democrats with a tit-for-tat process of forcing bills through the Senate.

“The Republicans have to get tougher,” Mr Trump said.

“If we end the filibuster, we can do exactly what we want. We’re not gonna lose power. The theory is, ‘oh, then we’ll do it, but then when they get into power someday they’ll do it’. That’s true. But you know what? We’re here right now.”

Tariff ruling could send US ‘to hell’

Mr Trump is facing a Supreme Court battle for his beloved tariffs.

There is a chance that the US Supreme Court will invalidate Mr Trump tariff rulings, with an outcome expected in coming days.

If the court rules against Mr Trump, the US President feel the country “will be immeasurably hurt”.

“I think our economy will go to hell. Look, because of tariffs, we have the highest stock market we’ve ever had,” Mr Trump said.

“Because of tariffs, I’ve ended six of the eight wars that I’ve ended, and it’ll end up being used also for the last war in a different way. Because of tariffs and the economy, but because of tariffs, we have a great economy. Because of tariffs, our country is wealthy again. Because of tariffs, tremendously good things happened. Because of tariffs, our country is respected again.”

Mr Trump was interrupted with a question, before he told O’Donnell to “wait a minute” as he continued to list reasons why tariffs are good for the US.

“Because of tariffs, President Xi allowed us to win every single point. He bought billions and billions of dollars of of our soybeans, of our everything it was the money they’re spending. When I came out, did you see what happened with the farmers? They’re having rallies for Trump right now because of tariffs.”

Mr Trump said it would be a “sad day” if his power to put tariffs on countries at his discretion was taken away.

Trump says China wont move on Taiwan while he’s in office

Mr Trump was asked if he discussed Taiwan and China’s eyed reunification with Chinese President Xi when the two global leaders met last week.

O’Donnell asked Mr Trump if he would deploy US troops if China moved in on Taiwan, saying: “You’ll find out if it happens, and he (Mr Xi) understands the answer to that.”

Mr Trump said Taiwan didn’t come up during discussions with Mr Xi in South Korea because “he understands”.

Pushed to provide details on what that meant, Mr Trump said he can’t “give away my secrets”.

Ukraine-Russia war

Mr Trump said he inherited the “stupid” Ukraine-Russia war from former US president Joe Biden.

He said the war would have never started if he was president, however avoided most direct questions about why a ceasefire had not yet been achieved.

Turning back to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr Trump said he believed he would secure a ceasefire in “a couple of months”, likely through tariffs.

“I think we’re gonna get it done, yeah,” Mr Trump said.

“I think he really wants to do business with the US.

“But it (tariffs) did work with India, and it did work with Pakistan, and it did work with 60 per cent of those countries. I can tell you, if it wasn’t for tariffs and trade I wouldn’t have been able to make the (peace) deals.”

On immigration and increased actions by ICE to detain and deport “illegal aliens”, Mr Trump said he was okay with the heavy handed approach of agents.

“I think they haven’t gone far enough because we’ve been held back by the liberal judges that were put in by Biden and by Obama,” Mr Trump said.

“You have to get the people out... Many of them are murderers.”

Mr Trump went on to say Venezuela had “dumped” prisoners and people from “mental institutions and insane asylums” into the US under the administration.

The US President denied that the US was trying to spark war with Venezuela.

Ahead of the highly anticipated interview, Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Hopefully they will treat me as well as they did Kamala”.

He has not yet commented on the fully aired interview.