Paramount settles with Trump for $16 mn over 60 Minutes interview edits

Funds will not go to Donald Trump directly, but instead will fund a presidential library; CBS executives have exited the media house over disagreement over the settlement

Paramount Global has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit brought by US President Donald Trump over the editing of a 2024 60 Minutes interview with then–Vice President Kamala Harris, in a case that has stirred debate over press freedom and editorial discretion.

 

According to a report by the Associated Press, the settlement, reached through moderation, will not compensate Trump personally. Instead, the funds will go toward the development of his planned presidential library.

 

The media company added that the agreement does not include any admission of liability or formal apology.

 

Trump's sues CBS over Kamala Harris 60 Minutes interview edits

The lawsuit was filed by Trump last year, in which the US President claimed CBS News edited Harris’ interview responses to make her appear more articulate, misrepresenting the exchange and distorting public perception in the run-up to the 2024 election. Trump’s legal team also claimed the edits caused "mental anguish" for the president and unfairly diverted media attention from his campaign and his social platform, Truth Social.

 

At the centre of the dispute was a question about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. CBS aired 21 seconds of Harris' answer on Face the Nation, and a different seven-second portion on 60 Minutes, leading to accusations of deceptive presentation.

 

CBS News says edit was for time, not bias

CBS News said the answers aired were taken from a longer response but said they were edited for time, not political bias.

 

As part of the settlement, Paramount has agreed to release full transcripts of future interviews with presidential candidates, barring necessary redactions for legal or national security reasons.

 

The timing of the deal comes as Paramount navigates a potential merger with Skydance Media, a transaction that is pending regulatory approval.

 

Execs exit CBS over lawsuit settlement

The agreement has also caused an upheaval inside CBS News. Two senior executives — CBS News President and CEO Wendy McMahon, and 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens — have stepped down, reportedly over their objections to the settlement terms.

 

The Freedom of the Press Foundation has also condemned the settlement and indicated plans to legally challenge it. The group argues that the deal could set a dangerous precedent by eroding press freedom.

 

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Trump’s legal team called the settlement “another win for the American people,” adding that CBS and Paramount “had no choice but to settle”, according to a report by the New York Times.

 

The White House has not publicly commented on the settlement.