Donald Trump Rips Scott Pelley Hours Before Explosive 60 Minutes Firing.

Donald Trump’s sharp attack on Scott Pelley is drawing new attention after the longtime 60 Minutes correspondent was dramatically fired from the CBS newsmagazine only hours later.

According to PEOPLE, Trump made the comments during a pre-taped appearance on Miranda Devine’s Pod Force One podcast. The interview was recorded on Tuesday afternoon, June 2, shortly before Pelley was terminated from 60 Minutes following a tense clash with new CBS executives.

During the podcast, Trump did not hold back. He called Pelley “terrible” and accused him of being part of what he described as a “crooked” and “stupid” group of people who do not care about the country.

The timing immediately made the remarks more explosive.

Pelley, 68, was fired the same day after a heated editorial meeting with new 60 Minutes executive producer Nick Bilton. According to PEOPLE, Bilton accused Pelley of “ambush,” “hostility” and “misconduct” in a termination letter following the meeting.

The dispute reportedly centered on the future direction of 60 Minutes under new CBS leadership. Pelley had been one of the most forceful internal critics of recent changes at the legendary news program. He previously accused CBS executives of weakening the show’s journalistic standards and claimed the network’s new direction appeared designed to curry favor with the Trump administration.

In a statement after his firing, Pelley said 60 Minutes had “lost its DNA” after several senior leaders and on-air correspondents were removed. He argued that good journalists had been silenced for standing up for fairness, professionalism and the audience.

That made Trump’s comments feel especially charged. For supporters of Pelley, the former president’s attack seemed to underline the very political pressure the journalist had warned about. For critics, Pelley’s removal was simply the result of a breakdown inside the newsroom and a clash with new management.

The turmoil at 60 Minutes did not begin with Pelley’s firing. PEOPLE reported that other major shakeups had already hit the program, including the exits of Cecilia Vega and Sharyn Alfonsi and the removal of executive producer Tanya Simon, who was replaced by Bilton.

Those changes have fueled growing concern among viewers, staffers and media observers about the future of one of America’s most respected television news institutions.

For decades, 60 Minutes has been known for tough interviews, deep investigations and a reputation for independence. But the recent wave of firings, public statements and political accusations has turned the program itself into the story.

Trump’s comments added another layer of drama. His attack on Pelley came before the firing became public, but once the news broke, the two moments became closely linked in the public conversation.

Now, the controversy is bigger than one journalist’s exit.

It has become a wider debate about whether 60 Minutes is changing under pressure, whether CBS leadership is trying to reshape the show for political reasons, and whether one of television’s most famous news brands can survive this level of internal conflict.

For Pelley, the firing marked a stunning end to a long chapter at CBS.

For 60 Minutes, it may be the beginning of an even bigger crisis.