Paramount, the parent company of CBS, has reached a settlement with former U.S. President Donald Trump over a lawsuit concerning a ’60 Minutes’ interview broadcast in October. The settlement, announced on Wednesday, brings an end to the legal dispute that began when Trump sued CBS for what he claimed was deceptive editing of the interview.
Paramount agreed to pay $16 million as part of the settlement, with the funds allocated to Trump’s future presidential library. Notably, the settlement does not include any statement of apology or regret from the media giant.
The lawsuit, initially filed for $10 billion, alleged that CBS edited the interview to favor the opposing political party during the election. In an amended complaint, Trump increased his claim for damages to $20 billion. The dispute centered around two versions of an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, where she reportedly gave different answers to the same question about foreign policy.
Paramount also agreed to release transcripts of future interviews with U.S. presidential candidates after they air, subject to legal and national security considerations. This move aims to promote transparency in media coverage of political figures.
The settlement comes amid ongoing tensions between Trump and various media outlets. Trump has often criticized news organizations for what he perceives as unfair coverage, frequently labeling unfavorable reports as “fake news.”
In addition to the Paramount case, there have been other notable legal actions involving Trump and media companies. For instance, a lawsuit against a newspaper over polling data was recently refiled in state court, highlighting the former president’s continued willingness to challenge media entities.
