In a high-profile media showdown, Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit filed by former U.S. President Donald Trump over an edited interview of then-Vice President Kamala Harris on the long-running news show 60 Minutes. But the settlement, announced Tuesday, comes with a notable omission: no apology.
The dispute centers on an interview aired in October, during the heat of the presidential election, where Trump alleges CBS misrepresented Harris’ stance on the Israel-Hamas war by airing two different versions that appeared to show conflicting answers to the same question. Trump claimed the editing was not just misleading but a deliberate attempt to sway public opinion in favor of the Democratic Party.
Initially seeking $10 billion in damages, Trump later amended his lawsuit to demand $20 billion, citing increased harm and ongoing media bias. Though CBS stood by its reporting, calling the case “completely without merit,” Paramount has now opted to resolve the case quietly — with $16 million directed not to Trump himself, but toward funding his future presidential library.
In a statement, Paramount made it clear: “The settlement does not include a statement of apology or regret.”
The company also agreed to a new transparency measure — promising that 60 Minutes will release transcripts of future presidential candidate interviews, with exceptions only for legal or national security reasons.
This is not Trump’s first media battle — nor is it likely to be the last. He’s recently won settlements from other media giants, including a $15 million payout from ABC News accompanied by a public apology, and a $25 million deal with Meta over social media account suspensions following the January 6 Capitol attack.
Paramount’s legal team entered mediation in April, and the settlement arrives at a time when the company is navigating a potential $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, requiring regulatory approval.
While the White House has yet to comment, Trump’s legal team has remained firm. And with the former president still threatening legal action against other outlets — including the Des Moines Register — it’s clear this fight over media accountability, press freedom, and political influence is far from over.
As Trump doubles down on his rhetoric against “fake news” and biased coverage, this settlement signals a new chapter in the uneasy relationship between powerful public figures and the media companies that cover them.
