President Donald Trump denied that recent prosecutions against some of his most vocal critics amount to “political retribution,” saying the accused “were so dirty, they were so crooked” that prosecution was necessary.

Trump sat for an interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” his first interview with the program in five years. CBS correspondent Norah O’Donnell asked the president about recent Justice Department cases brought against his former national security adviser John Bolton, former FBI chief James Comey, and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Asked if the prosecutions amount to retribution, Trump reminded O’Donnell that he was indicted first.

“You know who got indicted? The man you’re looking at. I got indicted, and I was innocent. And here I am, because I was able to beat all of the nonsense that was thrown at me,” Trump responded.

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“These people are scum. And yet, when you go after a dirty cop like Comey or a guy like Bolton, who I hear has, I don’t know anything about it, I hear he took records all over the place,” Trump continued. “Letitia James is a terrible, dishonest person, in my opinion. Terrible. I just won the case against her. She wanted me to pay $500 million for something I didn’t do anything wrong on. And the judge just overturned the decision.”

Comey was indicted in September on charges of ​​giving false statements and obstruction of a congressional proceeding. The charges against Comey stem from testimony he delivered to Congress in 2020 on his handling of the FBI investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

Bolton was indicted last month. The former national security adviser was charged on 18 counts of retention and transmission of national defense information. According to the indictment, Bolton shared classified information over his personal email, which was later hacked by Iran.

James was also charged last month over a loan she received in 2023 for a mortgage on a house in Virginia. James allegedly claimed the Virginia home as her primary residence when, as New York’s attorney general, she was required to live in the state of New York. The home instead was occupied by a relative of James.

All three defendants have denied the charges against them.

Trump denied that he instructed Justice Department officials to investigate or charge any of the defendants.

“You don’t have to instruct them because they were so dirty, they were so crooked, they were so corrupt that the honest people we have … go after them automatically,” said Trump.

“I think I’ve been very mild-mannered. You’re looking at a man who was indicted many times, and I had to beat the rap,” says President Trump after the recent indictments of high-profile figures who have publicly denounced him. https://t.co/XHoIr77Eh1 pic.twitter.com/tLH0fxW2wI

— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) November 3, 2025

President Donald Trump poked fun at New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani in an interview that aired on Sunday, claiming he is better-looking than the 34-year-old Democrat.

Trump sat for an interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” his first interview with the program in five years. CBS correspondent Norah O’Donnell asked the president about Mamdani and for Trump’s thoughts on some comparisons that have been made between the two.

“Some people have compared him to a left-wing version of you. Charismatic. Breaking the old rules. What do you think about that?” O’Donnell asked.

“Well, I think I’m a much better-looking person than him,” replied Trump.

The president also called Mamdani a “communist.”

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“He’s far worse than a socialist,” Trump noted. Mamdani has self-identified as a democratic socialist.

🚨 BREAKING: President Trump DEMANDS the Senate GOP get tough and nuke the filibuster so we only need 51 votes

“The theory is, if we do it, they’ll do it…but you KNOW WHAT? We’re here RIGHT NOW!”

“Get TOUGHER! We could do EXACTLY what we want. We’re not gonna lose power.”… pic.twitter.com/ae4Y4Fdwly

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 3, 2025

Trump voiced skepticism at Mamdani’s ability to lead New York City, if he were to win the election for mayor.

“I think he’s probably gonna make [former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio] look great. I think he will make de Blasio look like one of our great mayors. De Blasio was the worst mayor we’ve ever had,” said the president.

The interview was taped ahead of time and edited down for the slot in which it aired on Sunday evening. Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he would try to watch it, though he would be “delayed.”

“Let’s see if they treat me better than they treat other people. Although, I do say this, they treated Kamala very well. In fact, they changed her answers,” said Trump.

In July, the president reached a $16 million settlement with Paramount, the parent company of CBS News, over a “60 Minutes” interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign. Trump has sued the company for $10 billion, alleging that CBS had edited the interview with Harris in a way to “tip the scales in favor of the Democratic party” during the election.

After the settlement, Trump’s legal team called it “another win for the American people as he, once again, holds the Fake News media accountable for their wrongdoing and deceit.”