Why it matters
The settlement brings an end to a controversial lawsuit by President Trump over CBS’s broadcast of an interview with Kamala Harris. Paramount’s decision to pay $16 million underscores the high-stakes pressure surrounding its pending merger with Skydance Media.
Driving the news
Paramount Global has agreed to pay $16 million to resolve a lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump and Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson over a “60 Minutes” interview aired last fall featuring Vice President Kamala Harris.
According to CBS News, the settlement—announced Tuesday—was reached after two months of mediation. The amount will be allocated to Trump’s future presidential library and to cover legal fees. Neither Trump nor Jackson will receive any direct payment. Paramount offered no apology as part of the deal.
The big picture
Trump’s lawsuit, filed in Amarillo, Texas in October 2024, claimed CBS deceptively edited Harris’ remarks about the Middle East by airing two different responses across “Face the Nation” and the full “60 Minutes” segment. The case relied on a Texas consumer protection law, despite CBS not being headquartered in Texas or conducting the interview there.
Trump initially sought $10 billion in damages, later increasing the demand to $20 billion by adding federal claims of false advertising and unfair competition. CBS denied wrongdoing, asserting that editorial decisions followed standard news practices. The show’s executive producer, Bill Owens, refused to apologize before departing the network in April, citing a loss of editorial independence.
Between the lines
Paramount said the terms were recommended by a mediator, and emphasized that the company opted for settlement to avoid protracted legal battles. The company also agreed to a new editorial policy for “60 Minutes”: future interviews with U.S. presidential candidates will be accompanied by full transcripts after airing, with redactions allowed for legal or national security reasons.
The settlement comes as Paramount seeks FCC approval for its $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media. The FCC missed its informal 180-day review deadline in May and continues evaluating the deal, according to CBS.
What they’re saying
Trump celebrated the lawsuit on Truth Social earlier this year, writing he was “honored” to sue CBS and calling on then-FCC Chair Brendan Carr to “impose the maximum fines and punishment.” The conservative group that initiated a “news distortion” complaint over the same Harris interview saw its case dismissed under former Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, but Carr reopened the probe once Trump returned to office and appointed him to the role.
CBS responded to the FCC’s inquiry in February by handing over full transcripts and videos of the Harris interview, and made them public. In a March filing, CBS warned the complaint sought to create “a less free world” where the government acts as a “roving censor.” The case remains open.
Meanwhile, three Democratic senators — Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Ron Wyden — had earlier warned Paramount Chair Shari Redstone that settling could be perceived as “bribery.” Redstone recused herself from settlement negotiations.
What’s next
The Paramount-Skydance merger remains in regulatory limbo. If approved, it will mark the culmination of a lengthy and turbulent sales process involving multiple suitors and internal shake-ups at CBS, including the departure of top executive Wendy McMahon, who publicly cited disagreements with the company’s direction.
Source: CBS News