President Donald Trump just slammed the door on CBS News’ multimillion-dollar settlement offer. The network’s attempt to dodge a $20 billion lawsuit over a doctored 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris fell flat, as the Daily Mail reports. Trump’s not playing games with media outlets he accuses of playing fast and loose with the truth.
Trump filed the lawsuit in October 2024, targeting CBS, its parent company Paramount Global, and 60 Minutes, alleging the network deceptively edited Harris’ interview to make her look sharper than she was. Settlement talks kicked off nearly a month ago, with CBS offering $15 million to make the problem disappear. Trump called that offer “not even close” and demanded at least $25 million plus a public apology.
The lawsuit claims CBS correspondent Bill Whitaker’s prime-time interview with Harris was manipulated to hide her stumbling responses on issues like the Israel-Hamas war. Trump argues the edited footage swapped in clearer answers from another part of the interview to prop up Harris and smear him. A source close to Trump’s team didn’t mince words: “This was election interference.”
CBS denies any wrongdoing, insisting that the 60 Minutes broadcast was “not doctored or deceitful.” The network calls Trump’s allegations “completely without merit,” but that hasn’t stopped the former president from escalating the fight. Actions have consequences, and CBS might be learning that the hard way.
The lawsuit has ballooned into one of the largest defamation-related claims ever aimed at a media company. Legal analysts, however, argue the First Amendment gives CBS a sturdy shield, suggesting Trump’s case might fizzle in court. Still, the threat of a drawn-out legal battle looms large.
Paramount’s $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media is now caught in the crossfire. Trump has threatened to block federal approvals for the deal, and his Federal Communications Commission is probing CBS for potential “news distortion.” The merger’s fate could hinge on how this dispute plays out.
Paramount chairwoman Shari Redstone is personally mediating to cool the conflict, with sources saying she’s willing to offer up to $50 million to settle. If the Skydance merger goes through, Redstone stands to pocket $2 billion -- a tidy sum that might explain her urgency. But throwing cash at the problem won’t erase the damage to CBS’s credibility.
Inside CBS, the fallout is palpable. Wendy McMahon, CEO of CBS News, stepped down earlier this month, citing “differing views on the path forward.” Bill Owens, the longtime executive producer of 60 Minutes, also resigned, pointing to concerns over “editorial independence.”
CBS journalists are sounding alarms about Paramount’s handling of the situation. Scott Pelley, a 60 Minutes veteran, noted during a recent broadcast that Paramount has started supervising content in “new ways.” Many in the newsroom fear the company is sacrificing integrity to protect its merger.
Trump’s rhetoric isn’t helping calm nerves. He’s called for 60 Minutes to be canceled and threatened to revoke broadcast licenses and even jail journalists. CBS staffers are bracing for retaliation, especially with Elon Musk, Trump’s billionaire advisor, hoping the 60 Minutes team faces “long prison sentences.”
The lawsuit’s ripple effects are undeniable. Paramount faces internal criticism from CBS journalists who accuse the company of compromising the newsroom to save the Skydance deal. Meanwhile, 60 Minutes, with its 10 million weekly viewers, keeps airing investigations critical of Trump’s administration.
Trump’s no stranger to winning big against media giants. He’s already secured $25 million from Meta, $15 million from ABC News, and $10 million from X in prior settlements. CBS might’ve underestimated a man who knows how to play hardball.
A media attorney warned the New York Post that settling with Trump could look like a “payoff,” opening Paramount to criminal liability and shareholder lawsuits. “This is legally radioactive,” the attorney said, and CBS’s next moves will be scrutinized. The network’s attempt to brush this off as business as usual isn’t fooling anyone.
Trump’s lawsuit is more than a legal spat -- it’s a warning shot to media outlets he views as hostile. The First Amendment might protect CBS in court, but public perception is another battlefield. And Trump’s base is eating it up.
For now, CBS is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Paramount’s merger dreams, Redstone’s billions, and 60 Minutes’ reputation all hang in the balance. If they thought a quick settlement would make Trump go away, they miscalculated badly.
