Trump Forces CBS to Settle — $16M and No Apology
In a late-night announcement that shook both media insiders and political observers, Paramount Global quietly resolved a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump over an edited interview that aired on CBS' "60 Minutes." But the $16 million settlement came with no apology — and plenty of backlash from inside the network and beyond.
The Heart of the Dispute
The lawsuit centered on a 2024 "60 Minutes" interview with then-Vice President and Democratic Presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Trump alleged that CBS edited Harris' response to a question about the U.S.' relationship with Israel in a way that painted him unfairly and benefited Harris. CBS aired different segments of the same response on two programs — "Face the Nation" and "60 Minutes" — which fueled speculation and claims of bias.
Trump's legal team filed suit under a Texas consumer protection law and originally demanded $10 billion in damages, later increasing the total to $20 billion.
Why Paramount Settled
Despite media law experts widely calling the suit "frivolous," Paramount chose to settle for $16 million — not payable to Trump himself, but to his future presidential library.
This mirrored a prior $15 million settlement that Disney's ABC News agreed to in a separate lawsuit involving Trump.
CBS maintained its editing followed standard news procedures. When public pressure mounted and the FCC, under Trump's administration, got involved, the network released the full tapes and transcript — confirming no wrongdoing.
Paramount is currently seeking federal approval for an $8 billion merger with Skydance Media — a deal that some critics say influenced the decision to settle.
A Divided Response
Inside CBS, the decision sparked frustration among some employees who described the settlement as a blow to journalistic integrity. "This is a very sad moment for '60 Minutes,' CBS News and journalism," one staffer told CNN anonymously.
The Freedom of the Press Foundation criticized the decision as "spineless" and promised to pursue a shareholder lawsuit, according to CNN.
Meanwhile, Trump's legal team celebrated the outcome. "CBS and Paramount Global realized the strength of this historic case and had no choice but to settle," a spokesperson said in a statement reported by NBC News.
The Fine Print
The agreement did not include an apology or acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
It also included a stipulation that "60 Minutes" will release transcripts of interviews with U.S. presidential candidates moving forward, except where redactions are legally necessary.
Neither Trump nor co-plaintiff Rep. Ronny Jackson will personally receive funds from the settlement. Paramount's statement made that explicitly clear.
The Bigger Picture
For Trump, this lawsuit marked just one of several legal actions against media outlets. He previously sued ABC News and The Des Moines Register, accusing them of defamation and consumer fraud.
The pressure from the lawsuit and the pending merger led to high-profile resignations. "60 Minutes" executive producer Bill Owens stepped down in April, citing a loss of editorial independence. In May, CBS News chief Wendy McMahon also resigned, stating the company and she "do not agree on the path forward," according to CNN.
Despite the tension, CBS continued to air critical coverage of Trump and other political figures, including investigations into his legal battles and public statements.
CBS News president Tom Cibrowski thanked staffers on a morning call following the settlement, saying it was time to "lock arms" and focus on reporting, according to CNN.
Whether the lawsuit was strategic legal action or political leverage — or both — it left a mark on both journalism and corporate media, with many still questioning the price of settling versus standing firm.
References: Paramount settles Trump's '60 Minutes' lawsuit with $16 million payout and no apology | Paramount agrees to pay $16 million to settle Trump's lawsuit over '60 Minutes' Kamala Harris interview | Paramount settles with Trump for $16m over 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris
