Paramount to pay $16M in settlement with Trump over '60 Minutes' interview
Share and Follow


In a case seen as a challenge to free speech, Paramount has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump over the editing of CBS’ “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris in October.

Paramount told media outlets the money will go to Trump’s future presidential library, not to the president himself. It said the settlement did not involve an apology.

Trump’s lawyer said the president had suffered “mental anguish” over the editing of the interview by CBS News, while Paramount and CBS rejected his contention that it was edited to enhance how Harris sounded. They had sought to get Trump’s lawsuit dismissed.

There was no immediate word from the White House about the settlement of the case, which Trump filed in Amarillo, Texas.

The case has been closely watched by advocates for press freedom and by journalists within CBS, whose lawyers called Trump’s lawsuit “completely without merit” and promised to vigorously fight it after it was filed.

In early February, “60 Minutes” released a full, unedited transcript of the interview.

Under the settlement reached with help of a mediator, Paramount agreed that “60 Minutes” will release transcripts of future interviews of presidential candidates, “subject to redactions as required for legal and national security concerns,” CBS News cited the statement as saying.

Trump, who did not agree to be interviewed by “60 Minutes” during the campaign, protested editing where Harris is seen giving two different answers to a question by the show’s Bill Whitaker in separate clips aired on “60 Minutes” and “Face the Nation” earlier in the day. CBS said each reply came within Harris’ long-winded answer to Whitaker, but was edited to be more succinct.

The president’s lawyer, Edward Andrew Paltzik, said that caused confusion and “mental anguish,” misleading voters and causing them to pay less attention to Trump and his Truth Social platform.

Paramount and controlling shareholder Shari Redstone were seeking the settlement with Trump, whose administration must approve the company’s proposed merger with Skydance Media. CBS News President and CEO Wendy McMahon and “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens, who both opposed a settlement, have resigned in recent weeks.

The Freedom of the Press Foundation, a media advocacy group that says it is a Paramount shareholder, has said that it would file a lawsuit in protest if a settlement was reached.

In December, ABC News settled a defamation lawsuit by Trump over statements made by anchor George Stephanopoulos, agreeing to pay $15 million toward Trump’s presidential library rather than engage in a public fight. Meta reportedly paid $25 million to settle Trump’s lawsuit against the company over its decision to suspend his social media accounts following the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
FBI, police respond after attempted robbery of armored truck outside US Bank on Western Avenue in Blue Island: city official

Authorities Investigate Failed Armored Truck Heist at US Bank in Blue Island

BLUE ISLAND, Ill. (WLS) — In a dramatic turn of events on…
New evidence rewrites how Egypt's Great Pyramid was built

Groundbreaking Discovery Unveils New Insights into Construction of Egypt’s Great Pyramid

For centuries, the method by which Egypt’s Great Pyramid was constructed has…
Iran will retaliate 'with everything we have' if US attacks, senior diplomat warns

Iran Vows Fierce Retaliation Against US: Diplomat Warns of Full-Scale Response

Iran has issued a stark warning, stating it will retaliate “with everything…
Surgeon ex in Ohio dentist murders job hopped across country, dodged lawsuits after divorce

Ohio Dentist Murders: Ex-Husband Arrested for Alleged Disguise and Deception Tactics, Experts Reveal

The former husband of an Ohio dentist’s wife, who now faces charges…
Arrest made in connection to stabbing at Brunswick home, police say

Police Arrest Suspect Linked to Brunswick Home Stabbing Incident

Grace Freeman, aged 33, is currently facing multiple charges, including aggravated assault,…
Chicago City Council considers teen curfew, hemp ban, CPD settlements in 1st meeting of year since passing 2026 budget

Chicago City Council Deliberates Teen Curfew, Hemp Restrictions, and CPD Settlements in First Post-Budget Meeting of the Year

Chicago played host to a significant City Council meeting on Wednesday, marking…
Mitt Romney's sister-in-law left behind note before her death

Revealing Note Discovered: Mitt Romney’s Sister-in-Law’s Final Message

Before her tragic fall from a parking structure roof near a California…
Two students found dead in vehicle at university parking lot in Ohio

Tragic Discovery: Two Students Found Deceased in Ohio University Parking Lot

In a tragic incident that unfolded on Monday, two students were discovered…