In a late-night announcement Tuesday, Paramount — the parent company of CBS — agreed to pay President Donald Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit related to the controversial editing of an October 2024 60 Minutes interview with then–Vice President Kamala Harris.
The settlement, reached as Paramount pursues a high-profile merger with Skydance Media, marks Trump’s third major legal win against major media corporations since the 2024 election. The funds will be directed to Trump’s presidential library fund, not to Trump personally or to his co-plaintiff, Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX).
According to The Washington Post, the lawsuit accused CBS News of violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, alleging that the network engaged in “malicious, deceptive, and substantial news distortion” with the intent to “confuse, deceive, and mislead the public” ahead of the 2024 election.
CBS had continued to call the lawsuit “meritless” as recently as a June 23 court filing, arguing it was an attempt to sidestep First Amendment protections. The network maintained that its editorial decisions, including edits to the Harris interview, fell well within its constitutional rights.
At the center of the case was how 60 Minutes handled Harris’ responses — especially one about whether the Biden administration exerted “influence” over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. That same answer aired in much longer, uncut form on Face the Nation, revealing more of Harris’ trademark hesitations and off-topic meandering. The full transcript — released only months later, in February — revealed significant edits, particularly concerning Harris’ statements about U.S.–Israel relations.
Trump’s legal team celebrated the agreement, stating it was “another win for the American people,” and proof that Trump was holding the “Fake News media” accountable for bias and election interference, Axios reported.
But the settlement didn’t stop at a financial payout. Under its terms, 60 Minutes must now release full transcripts of interviews with presidential candidates after the interviews air, with redactions allowed only for legal or national security reasons.
The agreement has sparked backlash from media advocates and liberal lawmakers. Critics fear it sets a precedent that will chill journalistic independence and reward political pressure. In May, three Senate Democrats sent a warning letter to Paramount’s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, urging her not to settle. Sen. Bernie Sanders went further, calling any such deal a “grave mistake” and a surrender to “authoritarianism.”
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