Paramount Pays $16 Million to Settle President Trump’s 60 Minutes Lawsuit

Source: YouTube

Paramount agreed Tuesday to pay President Donald Trump $16 million to settle his high‑profile 60 Minutes lawsuit, marking one of the biggest concessions a major media company has made so far to a sitting president. The President sued Paramount, the owner of CBS News, for allegedly editing an interview with then‑Vice President Kamala Harris to damage his 2024 campaign. Trump accused CBS of “news distortion” and claimed the selective editing was intended to interfere with the election. While many legal experts dismissed the lawsuit as frivolous, the company opted to settle rather than risk a prolonged legal battle that could derail its multibillion‑dollar merger with Skydance Media.

What’s Behind Paramount’s Decision

Publicly, Paramount insisted the 60 Minutes lawsuit was separate from its merger with Skydance, a deal that requires approval from the Trump administration. But privately, company insiders admitted the lawsuit was a liability. Paramount’s board, led by Shari Redstone, worried the lawsuit could delay or even sink the merger, jeopardizing the company’s future and its decades‑long control of CBS and Paramount Pictures. Redstone, battling health issues, supported exploring a settlement to avoid an expensive, drawn‑out legal war.

The $16 million payment covers Trump’s legal fees and will fund his future presidential library. The deal requires CBS to release transcripts of future 60 Minutes interviews with presidential candidates but does not include an apology. Paramount also faced political risks. Critics warned the payout could be seen as a bribe, drawing legal action from shareholders or congressional scrutiny. But the company’s directors believed paying the same amount as a similar settlement Trump won from ABC News last year reduced that exposure.

A Winning Streak of Media Lawsuit Victories for Trump

The 60 Minutes case is part of Trump’s growing streak of legal wins against major media outlets. Last December, ABC News agreed to pay Trump $16 million to settle a defamation suit involving anchor George Stephanopoulos. That case set the standard for Paramount’s deal. Trump also filed lawsuits against The Des Moines Register and its pollster over pre‑election surveys, claiming they intentionally skewed results to harm his campaign. The Register is still fighting that case.

These lawsuits, combined with Trump’s pressure on regulatory agencies, have rattled newsrooms. At CBS, tensions over the 60 Minutes lawsuit led to the resignations of top executives, including the show’s executive producer and the head of CBS News. Many CBS journalists viewed the settlement as damaging to the network’s reputation for independent reporting. Others see it as a calculated business move to secure the merger and avoid a prolonged court battle.

The President’s Leverage Over Media Companies

The case highlights Trump’s growing ability to exert leverage over major institutions, including the media. With the White House and regulatory bodies under his control, companies with business before the government face pressure to avoid confrontations. In this instance, legal experts believed CBS had a strong defense based on the First Amendment. But Trump’s control of agencies like the Federal Communications Commission, which regulates CBS’s local stations, gave him indirect influence.

The Freedom of the Press Foundation called the lawsuit “beyond frivolous” but warned that settling emboldens Trump and weakens press freedom. CBS insiders echoed those concerns, though many acknowledged the commercial stakes were too high to risk losing the Skydance deal. Paramount now moves forward with its merger plans, while Trump adds another legal victory to his record.

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