In a case stirring debate over press freedom and political influence, Paramount has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump over the editing of a 2020 “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
The settlement, announced this week, will fund Trump’s future presidential library and not go to him personally, according to Paramount.
Trump’s legal team argued that selective editing of Harris’ responses misled the public and caused him “mental anguish” by diminishing attention to his campaign and Truth Social platform. Paramount and CBS News denied any wrongdoing, maintaining the editing followed professional standards and served to streamline Harris’ lengthy answers.
Despite CBS’ defense and previous efforts to dismiss the lawsuit, the case was settled through mediation. As part of the agreement, “60 Minutes” will release full transcripts of future presidential candidate interviews, with redactions allowed only for legal or national security reasons.
The lawsuit became a flashpoint in the broader conversation about media independence and corporate interests. Paramount, which owns CBS, is currently seeking government approval for a merger with Skydance Media, raising questions about whether the settlement was motivated by political expediency.
Inside CBS News, the decision sparked backlash. “60 Minutes” staff, including prominent correspondents like Bill Whitaker and Lesley Stahl, had previously written to Paramount’s leadership warning that any concession to Trump would “undermine the First Amendment.”
Longtime “60 Minutes” producer Rome Hartman called the settlement a “cowardly capitulation” and a betrayal of journalistic standards.
CBS News President Wendy McMahon and “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens, both reportedly opposed to the settlement, have since resigned.
The Freedom of the Press Foundation, a media watchdog group and Paramount shareholder, has threatened legal action in response to the settlement, saying it sets a dangerous precedent for press freedom.
This is not the first time Trump has secured settlements from major media outlets. ABC News and Meta previously paid $15 million and $25 million, respectively, to settle defamation and platform-ban lawsuits, with those funds also directed toward Trump’s planned presidential library.
The case continues to fuel debate over the balance between media accountability, corporate interests, and political influence in a tense pre-election environment.