Trump Scores Major Win in Lawsuit Against CBS and Paramount
President Donald Trump has secured a major legal victory against one of America’s media giants—and walked away with $16 million.
The Deal-Maker Goes to Court
Trump is no stranger to courtroom battles or high-stakes deals. This time, he took on Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, and came out on top.
The case stemmed from an edited 60 Minutes interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, which Trump claimed was intentionally altered to make her appear more intelligent and composed during the election season.
Settlement Reached—Without Apology
Though Paramount has not admitted wrongdoing, it agreed to a $16 million settlement. The deal reportedly covers Trump’s legal fees and sets aside funds for his future presidential library.
A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team stated, “CBS and Paramount Global realized the strength of this historic case and had no choice but to settle.”
The Interview at the Center of the Case
The lawsuit focused on two versions of an interview with Harris—one aired on 60 Minutes and another on Face the Nation.
Trump argued that CBS edited Harris’s response to a question about the Israel-Gaza conflict, concealing what he called a “word salad” and shielding her from public backlash.
His attorney said the editing caused Trump “mental anguish” and emotional distress.
CBS Denies Any Wrongdoing
CBS pushed back, saying the edits were standard and not malicious. “The broadcast was not doctored or deceitful,” a network spokesperson said.
Notably, Trump declined to participate in a 60 Minutes interview during the campaign. However, his lawsuit accused CBS of attempting to “tip the scales in favor of the Democratic Party.” Originally, he sought $10 billion in damages, later raising it to $20 billion.
Media Showdown Becomes Public
The legal fight went public in October, with Trump’s team framing it as a battle to “hold the Fake News media accountable.”
After the settlement, a Trump spokesperson said, “President Trump will always ensure that no one gets away with lying to the American people.”
Merger Pressure May Have Played a Role
According to the Wall Street Journal and New York Times, Paramount’s decision to settle may have been influenced by ongoing merger talks with Skydance Media.
With the FCC reviewing the deal—and Trump holding potential influence—executives reportedly wanted to resolve the issue quickly.
However, Paramount denied any connection between the lawsuit and the merger. “This lawsuit is completely independent of the Skydance transaction,” the company stated.
A Push for Transparency
As part of the settlement, 60 Minutes will now release full transcripts of interviews with future presidential candidates—a move directly tied to transparency concerns raised by Trump’s legal team.
Fallout at CBS
The case caused internal upheaval at CBS. Several top executives, including CEO Wendy McMahon, resigned during the settlement negotiations.
Insiders claim the refusal to issue a public apology to Trump contributed to the leadership shake-up. McMahon resigned on May 19, just months after 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens also stepped down, citing lack of journalistic independence.
Behind the scenes, some worried the payout might be seen as a potential bribe, given Trump’s sway over the media merger process.
Not the First Media Settlement
This isn’t the only recent concession. ABC News, owned by Disney, also settled a defamation case with Trump.
Whether seen as a media reckoning or a calculated political play, one thing’s certain—Trump isn’t backing down from his w*r on what he calls the “Fake News media.”
And this time, he walked away with millions.
