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In October 2024, then-President Donald Trump filed a lawsuit in opposition to CBS and its father or mother firm, Paramount World, alleging that the community had deceptively edited an interview with then-Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris on this system “60 Minutes.”

Trump claimed the edits have been supposed to favor Harris and the Democratic Get together through the election, accusing CBS of “information doctoring” and deceptive the general public by airing two variations of the interview during which Harris appeared to present completely different solutions to a query in regards to the Israel-Hamas warfare.

Initially, Trump sought $10 billion in damages, later growing the declare to $20 billion in an amended grievance. CBS maintained that the modifying was commonplace journalistic follow and described the lawsuit as “utterly with out benefit,” asking a choose to dismiss the case.

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Particulars of the Settlement

On July 1, 2025, Paramount agreed to pay $16 million to settle the lawsuit. The settlement specifies that the funds might be allotted to Trump’s future presidential library and won’t be paid to Trump “immediately or not directly.” Notably, the settlement doesn’t embrace any assertion of apology or remorse from Paramount or CBS.

As a part of the settlement, Paramount additionally dedicated to releasing transcripts of “60 Minutes” interviews with future U.S. presidential candidates after they air, with redactions allowed for authorized or nationwide safety causes.

Reactions and Implications

The settlement has drawn vital consideration and controversy:

CBS Information employees reportedly skilled inside upheaval, with the departures of “60 Minutes” government producer Invoice Owens and CBS Information chief government Wendy McMahon following the case.

Some lawmakers, together with Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Ron Wyden, criticized the settlement, with Warren calling it “bribery in plain sight” and demanding an investigation into potential anti-bribery regulation violations.

Authorized specialists have argued that the lawsuit was doubtless baseless and would have favored CBS in court docket on account of sturdy First Modification protections for the press.

Context and Broader Influence

The settlement comes as Paramount seeks approval for an $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, a course of requiring federal regulatory clearance. Observers have speculated that the timing of the settlement could also be linked to Paramount’s need to keep away from additional controversy through the merger course of.

This case is a part of a broader sample of Trump pursuing authorized motion in opposition to media shops over protection he deems deceptive. Paramount’s settlement follows comparable current agreements by different main media firms, together with Disney-owned ABC Information and Meta Platforms, each of which settled lawsuits introduced by Trump up to now 12 months.

Key Factors of the Settlement

• $16 million fee to be allotted to Trump’s future presidential library
• No apology or admission of wrongdoing by Paramount or CBS
• Dedication to launch future “60 Minutes” interview transcripts with presidential candidates
• No direct or oblique fee to Trump personally

Paramount acknowledged that the choice to settle was made to keep away from unpredictable authorized prices, reputational threat, and the disruption of a protracted authorized battle, particularly in mild of the continuing merger course of.