Overview:
President Donald Trump and Paramount Global have settled a lawsuit over an edited interview of Kamala Harris during the 2024 election. President Trump alleged the media company edited an answer from Harris to make her look better after two different soundbites from the same question were aired on “60 Minutes” and “Face the Nation.” Paramount will pay $16M to President Trump’s future Presidential Library. The lawsuit is at the same time as Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media, which requires approval from the Trump administration. Despite criticism from many legal experts, President Trump and Paramount were able to conclude the lawsuit.
Paramount Global has agreed to a $16 million settlement stemming from a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump in late 2024. While the funds will not go directly to Trump, the settlement stipulates that the money will be allocated toward the future Trump Presidential Library.
The case was centered around an edited 2024 interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris that aired on CBS’s “60 Minutes.” The lawsuit accused CBS News and its parent company of manipulating Harris’ response to a question about the Biden administration’s stance on Israel and Gaza.
Details of the Settlement
In addition to the financial settlement, Paramount agreed that future “60 Minutes” interviews with U.S. presidential candidates will include full transcripts released after airtime. However, the company emphasized that:
“The settlement does not include a statement of apology or regret,” a Paramount spokesperson stated.
President Trump declared victory following the outcome, saying in April:
“The case we have against 60 Minutes, CBS, and Paramount is a true WINNER. They cheated and defrauded the American People at levels never seen before in the Political Arena.”
Originally filed in Amarillo, Texas, the lawsuit first sought $10 billion in damages, later increasing that demand to $20 billion in early 2025.
Background: The Interview Controversy
The legal dispute stemmed from a televised segment where Vice President Harris appeared to offer conflicting answers on U.S. policy in the Middle East. One version of her response aired on 60 Minutes, while a different version aired on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
President Trump and many conservative viewers alleged that CBS intentionally edited the interview to protect Harris, whom they believed gave an unfavorable or incoherent answer.
“Her REAL ANSWER WAS CRAZY, OR DUMB,” Trump posted on TruthSocial at the time. “So they actually REPLACED it with another answer… A FAKE NEWS SCAM, which is totally illegal. TAKE AWAY THE CBS LICENSE.”
CBS maintained that the edits were made solely “for time purposes” and initially declined to release the full transcript, sparking further criticism and fueling the lawsuit.
A First Amendment Flashpoint
The lawsuit drew strong reactions from legal scholars and free speech advocates. Many described it as a threat to press freedom, noting its attempt to challenge First Amendment protections for journalists and broadcasters.
Despite that, this isn’t Trump’s first time taking legal action against media outlets. In January, ABC reached a separate settlement with the Trump team. He has also sued publications like The Des Moines Register over negative polling results and critical coverage.
Paramount’s Merger Pressure
While some questioned the legal basis of the case, others pointed to a strategic advantage held by Trump.
At the time of the lawsuit, Paramount Global was in the midst of a high-stakes merger with Skydance Media, a deal valued at $8.4 billion that requires government approval due to the public licensing of CBS-owned stations. The merger, announced in mid-2024, is still awaiting approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Paramount denied any connection between the lawsuit and the pending merger:
“This lawsuit is completely separate from, and unrelated to, the Skydance transaction and the FCC approval process. We will abide by the legal process to defend our case,” the company said.
Nevertheless, the lawsuit has already had ripple effects inside CBS.
- “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens announced his departure, citing a loss of editorial independence in the wake of the legal battle.
- Wendy McMahon, CEO of CBS News and Stations and CBS Media Ventures, is also stepping down, saying that she and the company “do not agree on the path forward.”
Looking Ahead
While the settlement closes a controversial chapter between Trump and Paramount, the larger implications — for media accountability, corporate mergers, and First Amendment boundaries — remain unresolved.
The Skydance merger, if approved, would give Paramount ownership of a diverse portfolio, including CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, and major franchises such as Mission: Impossible and Top Gun.
