Paramount to Pay $16 Million Settlement Over Trump’s “60 Minutes” Lawsuit

preCharge News POLITICS — Paramount Global, CBS News’ parent company, announced late Tuesday it will settle former President Donald Trump’s lawsuit over a controversial “60 Minutes” interview for $16 million. The case centered on the broadcast’s editing of a 2024 interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, with Trump claiming the selective airing misled the public.

The settlement will allocate funds toward Trump’s future presidential library as well as the plaintiffs’ legal fees and costs. Neither Trump nor Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) — who joined the lawsuit — will receive personal compensation.

Importantly, no apology was issued as part of the settlement.

Paramount Agrees to New Interview Policies

As part of the agreement, Paramount committed that “60 Minutes” will release full transcripts of interviews with presidential candidates going forward, barring redactions for legal or national security reasons.

This change reflects growing media transparency concerns and comes amid pressure from critics who said the broadcast editing distorted key messaging from Harris on Middle East policy.

Legal Background and Venue Controversy

Trump Filed Suit Under Consumer Protection Law

Trump initially filed the lawsuit in October 2024 in Amarillo, Texas, a federal court district with a single Trump-appointed judge. The complaint relied on a Texas consumer protection statute meant to prevent misleading commercial advertising — an unconventional legal pathway for challenging a news interview.

CBS News neither aired the interview from Texas nor is headquartered in the state.

Original Damages: $10 Billion to $20 Billion

The former president sought $10 billion in damages, later increasing the amount to $20 billion by February 2025 after adding claims of false advertising and unfair competition under federal law.

Media and Political Fallout

Paramount Maintains Lawsuit Was Baseless

Paramount asserted the suit lacked legal merit and defended its editorial practices, stating the “60 Minutes” editing process was standard. Executive producer Bill Owens, who oversaw the broadcast, refused to apologize and later resigned, citing a loss of editorial independence.

Soon after, CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon also stepped down, writing that she and the company no longer agreed on a path forward.

Legal Experts Slam Lawsuit as Threat to Press Freedom

First Amendment Violations Alleged

First Amendment experts widely criticized the lawsuit. University of Chicago professor Geoffrey R. Stone argued the legal basis was misapplied:

“CBS is not engaged in advertising here.”

Harvard law professor Noah Feldman called the lawsuit an “outrageous violation” of constitutional press protections.

Political Pressure and FCC Involvement

Senators Warned of “Bribery” Optics

After McMahon’s resignation, Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Ron Wyden warned Shari Redstone, Paramount’s Chair, that settling could appear to be a bribe. Redstone recused herself from settlement discussions.

FCC Review Adds Pressure on Paramount

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) played a key role behind the scenes. In early 2025, Trump appointee Brendan Carr reopened a conservative group’s news distortion complaint tied to the same Harris interview.

Although former FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel had dismissed the complaint in January 2025, Carr’s reopening added complexity — especially given Paramount’s ongoing $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, which still requires FCC approval.

What’s Next for Paramount and CBS?

Merger Hangs in Balance

The Paramount-Skydance merger has not yet received FCC approval, even though the 180-day informal review window expired in May 2025. The open news distortion complaint could influence the agency’s decision.

Paramount hopes the lawsuit’s resolution and new editorial commitments will defuse public backlash and regulatory scrutiny. However, press freedom advocates and media watchdogs will likely keep the company under the microscope.