Donald Trump has secured a $16 million settlement from Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS News, in a lawsuit over an edited interview with then–Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. The legal action stemmed from a 60 Minutes segment that Trump claimed was deceptively edited to favor Harris and harm his 2024 campaign.
The former president originally filed a $10 billion lawsuit in October 2024, alleging defamation and election interference. In a late-night announcement, Paramount said the settlement money would go either to Trump’s future presidential library or to charities of his choosing, but not to Trump personally. The agreement includes no admission of wrongdoing or apology from Paramount.
Paramount is currently seeking regulatory approval for an $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, a deal requiring sign-off from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which is chaired by Trump ally Brendan Carr. The timing of the settlement has raised concerns among lawmakers, who suggest the agreement may be an illegal effort to curry favor with the Trump administration.
“The settlement is another win for the American people,” a Trump legal spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal, adding that it holds “Fake News media accountable.”
Trump’s suit accused CBS of airing two different versions of the Harris interview, allegedly showing conflicting responses about the Israel-Hamas conflict. CBS dismissed the claims as “completely without merit.”
After amending the complaint in February and raising the damages sought to $20 billion, Trump also alleged violations of Texas consumer protection laws. The case, filed in a Texas court overseen by a Trump-appointed judge, entered mediation in April.
As part of the agreement, 60 Minutes will release future interview transcripts with presidential candidates after broadcast, subject to legal and national security review.
The settlement follows recent deals between Trump and major media companies, including a $25 million payout from Meta and a $15 million settlement from ABC News. Meanwhile, Democratic senators have warned that Paramount’s settlement may violate federal bribery laws, given the pending FCC merger approval.
