President Donald Trump has secured a high-profile legal win against one of America’s media giants and the payout is massive.
Donald Trump is no stranger to courtroom drama or striking a deal. And in this latest legal showdown, he’s walking away with a win.
Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, has agreed to a $16 million settlement in a lawsuit filed by Trump. The case centered on an edited 60 Minutes interview with then–Vice President Kamala Harris, which Trump claimed was intentionally altered to portray Harris as more articulate and composed, giving her an unfair advantage during the presidential campaign.
While CBS and Paramount have not issued an apology or admitted any wrongdoing, the settlement reportedly covers Trump’s legal expenses and sets aside funds for his future presidential library.
“This was a landmark case,” said a spokesperson for Trump’s legal team. “CBS and Paramount Global recognized the strength of our position and had no option but to settle.”
At the heart of the dispute were two versions of Harris’s interview one aired on 60 Minutes, the other on Face the Nation. Trump’s legal team argued that CBS edited out a confusing answer Harris gave regarding the Biden administration’s stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict, shielding her from criticism.
Trump claimed the edit caused him emotional distress and “mental anguish,” further intensifying the legal battle.
CBS has maintained that the edits to the Harris interview were routine and done strictly for time, denying any political agenda.
“The broadcast was not doctored or deceitful,” a CBS spokesperson said.
Notably, Trump had declined to participate in a 60 Minutes interview during the campaign.
Still, his lawsuit accused the network of trying to “tip the scales in favor of the Democratic Party.” Initially seeking $10 billion in damages a figure later doubled to $20 billion the suit became a flashpoint in the broader battle over media bias.
A Legal and Media Showdown
The lawsuit went public in October and quickly became a high-profile fight. Trump’s legal team framed the case as more than just about editing it was about “holding the Fake News media accountable.”
“This is a win for the American people,” said a Trump spokesperson following the settlement. “President Trump will always ensure no one gets away with lying to the American people.”
According to both The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, Paramount’s decision to settle may have been influenced by its ongoing merger negotiations with Skydance Media. With the Federal Communications Commission reviewing the deal and Trump having potential influence sources said company executives were eager to resolve the matter quietly.
Paramount, however, denied any connection between the settlement and the merger.
“This lawsuit is completely independent and is not related to the Skydance transaction or the FCC approval process. We are following the legal process to defend our case,” a company representative said.
As part of the settlement, 60 Minutes has agreed to release full transcripts of interviews with all future presidential candidates an apparent concession to Trump’s demands for greater media transparency.
Turmoil Inside CBS
The lawsuit has already triggered significant internal fallout at CBS.
Multiple top executives, including CEO Wendy McMahon, reportedly stepped down during the month-long settlement talks. Insiders suggest the network’s refusal to offer Trump an apology contributed to the resignations. McMahon officially announced her departure on May 19 months after 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens also exited, citing diminished editorial independence.
Behind the scenes, concerns were raised about whether the $16 million payout could be construed as a political bribe, given Trump’s potential sway over the Skydance merger.
abc newsThough CBS stands by its editorial integrity, the decision to settle marks yet another high-profile media concession to Trump. In a similar case, ABC News owned by Disney also recently reached a defamation settlement with the former president.
