Paramount Global announced late Tuesday its decision to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit brought by former President Donald Trump. The lawsuit, connected to a broadcast of CBS’s “60 Minutes,” claims the network manipulated an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris to mislead voters during the contentious 2024 presidential election. The company believes this settlement will ultimately support its business interests, including an anticipated merger with Skydance Media.
The specific allegations stem from an October 2024 “60 Minutes” segment, which featured an interview between correspondent Bill Whitaker and Harris. Trump’s lawsuit, filed in federal court in Texas, contends that CBS aired different edits of the interview, a move he claims was designed to mislead the electorate. Although legal experts initially deemed Trump’s claims tenuous, Paramount opted for a settlement as part of a broader strategy that includes managing internal discontent and external reputational risks.
Trump’s co-plaintiff in the case was U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, whose participation allowed the case to be heard by a federal judge in Texas sympathetic to their cause. The lawsuit was filed just before Trump reclaimed the presidency, alleging that CBS’s actions constituted consumer fraud. The sheer scale of the compensation requested originally reached $10 billion, later increased to $20 billion.
Internally, Paramount’s handling of the lawsuit has sparked unrest within CBS News. Key producers of “60 Minutes” have expressed concern that the corporate leadership intervened in editorial decisions. Bill Owens, who served as the show’s executive producer, announced his departure earlier in the year, followed closely by the resignation of CBS News president Wendy McMahon. The growing tension has raised eyebrows about the network’s editorial independence.
The settlement, which reportedly comes without an apology from Paramount, is likely to fuel criticism from CBS reporters and producers, many of whom believe that offering any form of regret would violate journalistic principles. Instead of receiving direct payment, the funds will be allocated to Trump’s presidential library, and Paramount has agreed to enhance transparency by releasing full interview transcripts of presidential candidates going forward, with certain redactions.
In a statement, Trump’s legal team suggested that Paramount recognized the strength of their case and felt cornered into settling. Trump portrayed the outcome as a form of vindication, reiterating his long-standing crusade against what he labels as “Fake News.” Throughout this legal saga, Trump has consistently criticized the media for what he claims is deceptive reporting.
As the media landscape grapples with its own challenges navigating Trump’s litigious tendencies, this settlement could embolden further legal actions against outlets that publish unfavorable coverage. Notably, other large media companies, including Disney, have previously made similar settlements to avoid prolonged legal battles with the former president.
Trump has also recently refiled a lawsuit against the Des Moines Register concerning a poll that showed him trailing Harris in Iowa. This indicates that he remains undeterred by previous legal setbacks and is willing to challenge multiple media outlets concurrently.
The controversy surrounding the “60 Minutes” lawsuit led to significant turmoil at CBS, prompting resignations among top executives. Paramount’s board reportedly considered mediation offers to resolve the dispute, all while understanding the need to maintain journalistic integrity amidst corporate pressures.
As the company moves forward with its plans, including the proposed merger with Skydance, it faces the ongoing challenge of balancing commercial interests with editorial independence and the repercussions of its settlement with Trump. Paramount maintains that the actions taken against CBS were justified and will not impede the network’s core values of truthfulness and accountability.