Overview
- Paramount Global and CBS News will pay $16 million to resolve President Trump’s lawsuit over alleged deceptive editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris, covering his legal fees and library fund without admitting wrongdoing or issuing an apology.
- As part of the deal, CBS News has agreed to publish complete, unedited transcripts of all future interviews with presidential candidates after they air.
- President Trump claims an additional side arrangement with Skydance Media will place another $15–20 million in public service announcements, a contention that Paramount denies and says was not approved by its board.
- The settlement is widely seen as linked to Paramount’s bid for Federal Communications Commission approval of its pending $8 billion merger with Skydance Media under a Trump-appointed commission.
- Free-press groups and Democratic lawmakers have threatened regulatory and congressional investigations, warning the agreement sets a dangerous precedent for journalistic independence.