One question, two answers: Kamala Harris's CBS '60 Minutes' interview sparks row

A controversy has erupted over United States Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris's interview with broadcaster CBS. Harris, who sat down with CBS for an interview on their iconic '60 Minutes' show, is facing fire after video clips circulating online suggested that one of her responses had been edited to make it seem much sharper.

Several Republican commentators posted two video clips highlighting a purported difference between the version of her answer in a promotional clip and the one that actually aired as part of the interview. Republican candidate Donald Trump's campaign too commented on the controversy, demanding the release of the full, unedited version of Harris's interview.

According to Fox News, the controversy began when conservatives mocked Kamala Harris after CBS aired a lengthy and unclear response from her on Sunday’s 'Face the Nation' programme to promote the upcoming '60 Minutes' interview.

In the promo clip being circulated online, the interviewer Bill Whitaker asks "why it appeared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasn’t listening to the United States". To this, Harris responds, "Well Bill, the work that we have done has resulted in a number of movements in that region by Israel that were very much prompted by, or a result of, many things, including our advocacy for what needs to happen in the region."

However, in the second clip -- purportedly from the actual '60 Minutes' interview that aired on Monday night -- Harris’s response to the same question was shorter, and more focused: "We are not going to stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need for this war to end."

Several Republican commentators and conservatives highlighted the discrepancy on social media, accusing CBS of editing Harris's full response to present a sharper answer.

Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt accused CBS of "deceptively editing" the interview to avoid airing what she referred to as a "word salad". She also called for the full, unedited version of the interview to be released.

"On Sunday, 60 Minutes teased Kamala's highly-anticipated sit-down interview with one of her worst word salads to date, which received significant criticism on social media. During the full interview on Monday evening, the word salad was deceptively edited to lessen Kamala's idiotic response," Leavitt was quoted as saying by Fox News.

"Why did 60 Minutes choose not to air Kamala's full word salad, and what else did they choose not to air? The American people deserve the full, unedited transcript from Kamala's sit-down interview. We call upon 60 Minutes and CBS to release it. What do they, and Kamala, have to hide?" she added.

While multiple clips have circulated online, it's unclear whether CBS did edit the interview and the network has not publicly addressed the matter.