US media company Paramount Global has agreed to pay $16 million (£13.5m) to settle a legal dispute with US President Donald Trump regarding an interview it broadcast on CBS with former Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump filed a lawsuit last October, alleging the network had deceptively edited an interview that aired on its 60 Minutes news programme with his presidential election rival Kamala Harris, to "tip the scales in favour of the Democratic party". Paramount said it would pay to settle the suit, but with the money allocated to Trump's future presidential library, not paid to him "directly or indirectly". The company noted the settlement does not include a statement of apology or regret. CBS, which is owned by Paramount, previously said the case was "completely without merit" and had asked a judge to dismiss it. The settlement marks the latest concession by a US media company to a president who has targeted outlets over what he describes as false or misleading coverage. According to the lawsuit filed in federal court in Texas, CBS aired two versions of the Harris interview in which she appeared to give different answers to the same question about the Israel-Gaza war. Interviewer Bill Whitaker asked the Democratic nominee about the Biden administration's relationship with Israel. The network later aired two different versions of her response, according to the claim. One clip aired on Face the Nation and the other on 60 Minutes. Trump claimed Harris's "word salad" answer had been deceptively edited in one version to shield her from backlash. CBS said it edited Harris's answer for time, in accordance with television news standards. Trump sued, originally claiming for $10bn (£8.5bn) but that figure was later increased to $20bn ($17bn) for damages. In May this year, the company offered $15m (12.7m) to settle the suit but Trump wanted more than $25m (£21m). In a statement released on Tuesday, Paramount confirmed the settlement fee included the president's legal fees, and that it had agreed that 60 Minutes will release transcripts of interviews with future presidential candidates. According to both theWall Street JournalandNew York Times, the settlement was agreed - with the help of mediator - so as to not affect Paramount's planned merger with Skydance Media, which the Federal Communications Commission has been reviewing and therefore Trump technically has the power to halt. During the month-long settlement talks, some CBS News executives including chief executive Wendy McMahon have left their roles, due to their unwillingness to issue an apology to Trump. There were also reportedly concerns over whether paying to settle the lawsuit could be viewed as bribing a public official. A spokesman for Trump's legal team said the settlement was "another win for the American people as he, once again, holds the Fake News media accountable for their wrongdoing and deceit." He added that CBS and Paramount "realised the strength of this historic case." CBS has said the broadcast was "not doctored or deceitful". BBC News has contacted Paramount and the White House for further comment. The Paramount settlement follows a decision by Walt Disney-owned ABC News to settle a defamation case brought by Trump.
Paramount to pay Trump $16m to settle 60 Minutes lawsuit
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"Paramount Global Settles Lawsuit with Trump for $16 Million Over Edited Interview"
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TruthLens AI Summary
Paramount Global has reached a settlement agreement to pay $16 million to resolve a legal dispute with former President Donald Trump concerning a controversial interview that aired on CBS's 60 Minutes. The lawsuit, filed by Trump in October 2022, claimed that the network had deceptively edited an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris to favor the Democratic Party during a critical election period. Trump argued that CBS presented two versions of Harris's response to a question regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict, which he alleged misrepresented her statements to protect her from criticism. Paramount has clarified that the settlement funds will be allocated to Trump's future presidential library, rather than being paid directly to him, and that there will be no formal apology issued as part of the agreement. This settlement comes amid ongoing tensions between Trump and various media outlets, which he has accused of biased reporting against him.
The legal battle saw Trump initially seeking $10 billion in damages, a figure that later escalated to $20 billion. Paramount's decision to settle follows a previous offer of $15 million, which Trump rejected, demanding more than $25 million instead. The resolution of this lawsuit is seen as significant, particularly as it was negotiated with the assistance of a mediator to avoid potential complications related to Paramount's planned merger with Skydance Media. During the settlement discussions, several CBS executives departed their positions, reportedly due to disagreements over the handling of the case and the hesitance to issue an apology to Trump. A spokesperson for Trump's legal team described the settlement as a victory for the American public, asserting that it holds the media accountable for alleged misinformation. Meanwhile, CBS has maintained its stance that the broadcast was not manipulated and has dismissed the claims as baseless. This case adds to a growing list of legal challenges faced by media companies from Trump and reflects the complex relationship between politics and media in contemporary America.
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