Bari Weiss and Trump exchanging cheek kisses after '60 Minutes' interview left CBS staff stunned

WASHINGTON, DC: Bari Weiss and Donald Trump left CBS staff shocked as they reportedly kissed each other on the cheek as the latter returned to ‘60 Minutes’ in November last year.

The president had sat down for the interview with correspondent Norah O’Donnell and told her about Weiss that he did not "know her, but I hear she's a great person."

Trump expressed happiness over Bari Weiss becoming CBS News' editor-in-chief

Trump also stated, “I think one of the best things to happen is this show and new ownership, CBS and new ownership. I think it's the greatest thing that's happened in a long time to a free and open and good press.”

Weiss was appointed as the editor-in-chief of CBS News just a month ago.

After the interview ended, things got quite friendly on the set between Weiss and Trump, four people familiar with the situation have claimed, as per The Independent.

First, the commander-in-chief told O’Donnell that “how great” Weiss would be for the network and also lauded Paramount chief David Ellison, who had just bought CBS News’ parent company.

CBS News reporter says Trump and Bari Weiss' exchange 'reeked of elitism'

But Trump did not know Weiss was present at the site, and when she approached him to introduce herself, “they both leaned in and exchanged kisses on the cheek,” a tipster said.

They also shared that the Republican leader “was so happy to see her and she was so excited to meet him.”

The exchange also stunned O’Donnell and her “jaw dropped.” A CBS News reporter added, “I’m still kind of stunned by this. It reeks of elitism.”

After meeting Weiss, Trump agreed for a few more questions at the request of the executive producer.

The questions were around crypto billionaire Changpeng Zhao’s pardon and his ties with the first family.

“I'd rather not have you ask the question. But I let you ask it. You just came to me and you said, ‘Can I ask another question?’ And I said, yeah. I coulda walked away. I didn't have to answer this question,” Trump had said at one point.

CBS News staff members say cheek kisses 'not a normal news practice'

Meanwhile, one staffer was not surprised by the cheek kisses as they claimed it to be “standard fare” for network executives.

“It wasn't just Bari that he greeted that way. It was everyone,” they stated.

However, as per the CBS reporter, “That absolutely is not a normal news practice. A firm handshake is an acceptable greeting.” 

“It’s wildly inappropriate and presents an overly chummy relationship with the president that no real journalist should or would engage in because it suggests a lack of objectivity. That is the president, not a grieving family member,” they asserted.

A former CBS News producer added that the “standard operating procedure is just being professional and everyone taking a photo together,” while another one argued that they’ve “never kissed a head of state on the cheek before.”