President Donald Trump has turned down a $15 million settlement from Paramount Global to end his ongoing lawsuit against CBS News. The suit centers on Trump’s allegation that “60 Minutes” deceptively edited an interview with former Vice President Kamal Harris during the 2024 presidential race.
According to The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the offer on May 28, Trump is demanding $25 million and a public apology from CBS News.
The lawsuit
Trump filed the lawsuit against CBS News and its parent company, Paramount, in October 2024, initially seeking $10 billion in damages. That figure was later raised to $20 billion. CBS maintains that the editing was standard for time constraints and that Harris’ full remarks were made available online.
A deadline for Trump to respond to Paramount’s motion to dismiss the case was also set for May 28. A mediation session involving both parties is scheduled for Thursday, May 29, according to the Journal. Shari Redstone, chairwoman and majority shareholder of Paramount, has recused herself from any direct negotiations with Trump’s legal team.
Trump threatens second lawsuit
The Journal also revealed that Trump is threatening to bring another lawsuit against CBS over accusations of biased news coverage. However, details of that potential lawsuit have not been made public.
In April, Trump also threatened to push the FCC to revoke CBS News’ broadcast license, citing coverage of his positions on Russia and Greenland, including his stated interest in acquiring the latter territory.
The move to settle the lawsuit comes as Paramount tries to secure a deal to acquire Skydance Media, which will require the approval of Trump’s FCC. Paramount is expected to nominate a trio of new directors to the board, potentially bringing the total to seven. One director is expected to step down, and the changes would ensure a full board is in place in case the deal is blocked.
Backlash at CBS
Paramount’s interest in settling the lawsuit has reportedly sparked internal conflict at CBS. CBS News President Wendy McMahon told staff earlier this month she was stepping down — a decision partially influenced by resistance to Trump’s demand for an apology from the network. Reuters first reported McMahon’s resignation.
Her departure follows that of “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens, who cited the loss of editorial independence as a reason for his exit. McMahon had publicly supported Owens’ decision.
According to the Journal, Paramount executives have expressed concern that settling with Trump could raise legal red flags, including the risk of criminal exposure for bribing a public official.
If a deal is ultimately reached, it would mirror other recent high-profile settlements with Trump. In December 2024, Disney settled a defamation case by donating $15 million to Trump’s proposed presidential library and covering $1 million in legal fees. The lawsuit stemmed from false on-air comments by ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos, who incorrectly stated that Trump had been found liable for rape in the E. Jean Carroll case.
Concerns over a potential settlement
Trump has previously secured large settlements from tech companies. Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, Meta, agreed to pay $25 million to resolve a 2021 lawsuit after suspending Trump following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. X reportedly paid $10 million to settle a similar case.
