Paramount Global (PARA) has reached a $16 million settlement with former President Donald Trump, resolving his lawsuit that alleged CBS’ 60 Minutes edited then-Vice President Kamala Harris’s interview in a way that misled voters and amounted to election interference.
Paramount announced Wednesday that the settlement covers plaintiffs’ legal fees, with remaining funds to go toward a future presidential library — no money will be paid directly to Trump. He had sought $20 billion in damages.
Key points of the settlement:
✅ No apology required from CBS.
✅ CBS will release full transcripts of presidential candidate interviews moving forward.
✅ Widely seen as key to regulatory approval of Paramount’s pending merger with Skydance Media.
Background on the lawsuit:
- The dispute centered on 60 Minutes airing two different cuts of a Harris interview in October: one preview clip on Face the Nation and a shorter edit in the final broadcast.
- Trump alleged the edits were “doctored” to make Harris appear more coherent, calling it deliberate deception meant to sway the 2024 election.
- CBS countered that Face the Nation used a longer cut, and the 60 Minutes edit was “more succinct” to fit the program’s format, stating: “When we edit any interview…we strive to be clear, accurate and on point.”
- CBS fought the case on multiple grounds, arguing the Texas consumer protection law Trump sued under was misapplied, since it was intended for commercial disputes, not editorial choices by news organizations.
- US Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) was added as a co-plaintiff in February, amplifying the case’s political significance.