In a case that drew national attention as a potential test of free speech and media accountability, Paramount Global has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump over the editing of a 2024 “60 Minutes” interview with then–Vice President Kamala Harris.
The settlement, reached with the help of a mediator, stipulates that the money will be directed to Trump’s future presidential library — not to Trump personally. Paramount emphasized that the agreement includes no apology or admission of wrongdoing.
Trump sued the media giant in Amarillo, Texas, alleging that CBS News selectively edited Harris’s interview to make her appear more coherent and poised during a critical election moment. Trump’s legal team argued that the editing misled viewers and harmed Trump’s campaign by drawing attention away from his messaging on Truth Social.
In the lawsuit, Trump claimed he suffered “mental anguish” due to the edits, which showed Harris giving seemingly conflicting answers to a question posed by “60 Minutes” correspondent Bill Whitaker. CBS maintained that both clips came from the same long-form response and were edited only for brevity. The interview aired across “60 Minutes” and “Face the Nation” on the same day.
As part of the settlement, CBS has agreed to release full transcripts of all future interviews with presidential candidates, barring redactions required for legal or national security reasons.
While Trump celebrated the outcome as a win for “media fairness,” Paramount faced internal criticism. CBS News President Wendy McMahon and “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens — both of whom reportedly opposed settling the lawsuit — have resigned in recent weeks.
The Freedom of the Press Foundation, which holds Paramount stock, announced it may pursue legal action of its own, arguing the settlement threatens editorial independence.
This is the latest in a string of media-related legal wins for Trump. In December, ABC News settled a defamation suit involving anchor George Stephanopoulos for $15 million, also directed to Trump’s presidential library. Meta reportedly paid $25 million to resolve a lawsuit tied to Trump’s suspension from Facebook and Instagram following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
As legal battles between Trump and media companies continue, the settlements mark a strategic pivot: opting for high-dollar, low-profile resolutions over drawn-out courtroom clashes that could further inflame partisan tensions.
