Trump is asked if he would forgive his enemies to get into heaven. Then he says ‘no’ and the clock starts ticking: ‘60 Minutes directed by Bergman?’
Artistic choices.
Donald Trump sat down for a conversation on CBS’ 60 Minutes on November 8, 2026, that, according to Jon Stewart, saw an incredibly ‘dramatic’ and ‘ominous’ production choice. The moment occurred when Trump faced a question about whether he would be willing to forgive his enemies if it meant he could enter heaven. His response was blunt. He stated, “Can I be honest? I probably cannot do that now because I do hate some of my enemies, and I always will.”
The production team at CBS immediately cut to a commercial break. As the screen transitioned, the show played its iconic, rhythmic ticking clock sound. Stewart, in his recent monologue on The Daily Show, was visibly stunned by the timing of this ‘artistic choice’. He suggested the atmosphere felt like something out of a film by Ingmar Bergman. Stewart remarked, “60 Minutes directed by Bergman, now? Is there a sound that is any more of an ominous portent of the fate that awaits Donald Trump?”
Stewart clearly found the juxtaposition of Trump’s admission of hatred against the steady, rhythmic ticking of the clock to be a high-level artistic move. He noted that the choice of when to cut away provided maximum dramatic impact. According to Deadline, Stewart exclaimed, “Oh s***! No, they didn’t. Oh s***! That is some Ebenezer Scrooge b******* on that.” He seemed to appreciate the tension created by the network during the interview.
The interview itself was conducted by Ross Douthat, a new correspondent for the program
This appearance followed a significant internal shift at CBS over the past year. Reports suggest that Bari Weiss took over leadership at the network, leading to the departure of several long-time journalists. Some of these departures were linked to allegations that staff members felt pressured to provide Trump with favorable coverage. Despite this, Stewart was surprised by how much pushback Douthat offered during the segment.
One specific exchange caught Stewart’s attention early on. Trump claimed his administration had “created wealth at a level that our country has never seen.” Ross Douthat quickly retorted, “including for yourself.” Stewart was delighted by this pushback.
According to Variety, the host asked, “Young man, was that sass? Did the newly MAGA-fied CBS 60 Minutes just deliver sass to Donald Trump?” Stewart admitted that he had not expected to enjoy watching the interview, but he found the dynamic between the interviewer and the president quite entertaining.
Douthat continued to press Trump on his personal finances throughout the broadcast. He pointed out that Trump’s net worth had increased by $3 billion. When Douthat challenged him, Trump claimed he did not even know the specifics of his own financial growth. Stewart joked about this inconsistency.
The late-night host mentioned that when discussing global finance, Trump acts like he is an expert, but when questioned about his own $3 billion windfall, he acts confused. Stewart quipped, “So when it’s global finance, Trump is Keanu Reeves from The Matrix, but when it’s his own $3 billion post-election windfall, he’s Keanu Reeves from Bill and Ted.”
Douthat also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest
The journalist noted that Trump is a co-owner of a company with investors who are connected to the United Arab Emirates government. Douthat pointedly remarked that if he had presented a similar situation regarding the Biden family, Trump would have labeled it as corrupt.
Stewart was thoroughly impressed by this line of questioning. He praised the journalist by saying, “My God, Ross, you beautiful bearded b******. Do you know what you’ve just done here? Do you have any idea what you just did here? You have made Donald Trump admit that the difference between him and Joe Biden is that Joe Biden is more aware of his surroundings.”
Stewart clearly enjoyed the spectacle of the interview. He referenced a famous line from the movie When Harry Met Sally, saying, “I’ll have what he’s having,” in response to the aggressive interviewing style. He seemed surprised that a program that many expected to be heavily influenced by the new management was actually challenging the president on his record and his rhetoric.
The segment on the show also touched upon the philosophical questions posed to the president. Douthat asked Trump what he thought happens when people die. Stewart mocked the inclusion of such a deep question for someone who struggles to explain the origins of his own wealth.
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