Trump’s Claims on ’60 Minutes’ Interview Scrutinized for Accuracy

In a wide-ranging 60 Minutes interview with CBS News anchor Norah O’Donnell, President Donald Trump made several claims about international trade, nuclear weapons, immigration, and the economy that have come under scrutiny. A Newsweek fact-check of the interview determined that six of Trump’s eight major assertions were false, with only two statements holding up to verification.

The interview comes one year after Trump sued the CBS program over the editing of an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. That case was settled for $16 million, highlighting the contentious relationship between the president and the media outlet.

Among Trump’s claims was an assertion that his predecessor Joe Biden had granted tariff exemptions to China on “almost everything,” which Newsweek labeled false. Records show the Biden administration actually maintained or increased many Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods that were initially imposed during Trump’s first term. In September 2024, the Office of the United States Trade Representative announced final modifications to these tariffs, maintaining proposed increases on numerous products including medical equipment.

The president’s recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea, resulted in an agreement to reduce U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods from 57 to 47 percent, while Beijing pledged to eliminate export controls on rare earth minerals and enhance fentanyl controls.

Craig Singleton, China Program Senior Director at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, described the deal as providing “temporary calm” rather than a structural reset in relations. “Both sides gave just enough to claim success—Trump gets soybeans and soundbites, Xi retains his rare-earth chokehold for use later,” Singleton told Newsweek.

Trump was correct in stating the United States is producing electricity “like never before.” Data from LSEG cited by Reuters confirms that in the first five months of 2025, U.S. power producers increased total output by 2 percent compared to the previous year, reaching a record 69.3 million megawatt hours.

However, the president’s claim that major chip manufacturers are leaving Taiwan for the United States because of tariffs was deemed false. While Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) plans to produce 30 percent of its most advanced chips in Arizona when its six Phoenix plants are operational, the company has repeatedly stated that Taiwan will remain its primary manufacturing hub. TSMC has announced plans to build 15 new chip fabrication facilities in Taiwan, reinforcing this commitment.

Trump’s assertion that the United States possesses more nuclear weapons than any other country contradicts available data. According to the Arms Control Association, Russia’s nuclear arsenal comprises approximately 5,460 warheads, while the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists reported in January 2025 that the U.S. inventory totals about 5,177 nuclear warheads.

The president also incorrectly suggested that Russia and China are currently testing nuclear weapons. Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, told Newsweek that “Trump is misinformed” and that no country except North Korea has conducted nuclear test explosions this century. Russia, China, and the United States have observed a moratorium on explosive nuclear testing since 1992.

On immigration, CBS’s O’Donnell accurately stated that illegal crossings at the southern border are at a 55-year low, citing Department of Homeland Security data that confirmed border crossings were at their lowest level since 1970. However, Trump’s claim that Venezuela had “emptied their prisons” into the United States was rated false, with the Poynter Institute’s PolitiFact finding no evidence supporting this assertion.

Finally, Trump’s statement that grocery prices are currently declining contradicts government data. According to the Department of Labor, the food price index rose 0.2 percent in September after a 0.5 percent increase in August. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that food prices have risen faster than overall inflation, increasing by 3.2 percent between August 2024 and August 2025.

The interview highlights the ongoing tension between the administration’s statements and verifiable facts as the president continues to navigate complex domestic and international issues in his second term.