Paramount Global is reportedly considering settling former President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against CBS, posed due to claims of deceptive editing during a contentious ‘60 Minutes’ interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. This move has sparked outrage among CBS News staff, who fear the potential compromise of press integrity and the broader ramifications for journalism.
The lawsuit, filed by Trump in October 2024, accuses CBS of manipulating Harris's interview—primarily focusing on segments where her answers were edited to present her more favorably. Following the airing of the interview, Trump and his campaign asserted CBS’s edited footage is “deceitful,” and argued the network infringed upon the integrity of reporting.
According to CBS officials, Trump's legal actions lack merit and violate Texas law, leading them to declare their intent to “vigorously defend” against the claims.
Legal experts have been quick to dismiss Trump’s lawsuit as frivolous, with First Amendment attorney Theodore Boutrous Jr. asserting, “There is absolutely no reason, from a legal perspective, for CBS to settle — this is ridiculous.” Such remarks echo the sentiments of CBS staffers, who are reportedly furious at the prospect of reaching any agreement with Trump’s legal team. A CBS correspondent expressed their frustration anonymously, stating, “Trump’s lawsuit was a joke, but if we settle, we become the laughingstock.”
Recent developments have indicated Paramount chairwoman Shari Redstone is leading discussions for settlement. Insiders claim this move aims to facilitate Paramount's planned merger with Skydance Media, which necessitates regulatory approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)—currently overseen by Trump-appointee Brendan Carr. This dynamic has raised eyebrows, considering how settling could be interpreted as yielding to pressure from the Trump administration.
The potential settlement discussions come amid growing concerns over the chilling impact of Trump's lawsuit on media freedom. Many within CBS News argue such concessions undermine journalistic independence, especially when factoring Trump’s history of litigations and threats directed at media outlets. The fear among staff members is palpable; they worry about the long-term consequences of caving to Trump’s legal demands.
Reflecting on the tension, Gayle C. Sproul, CBS News senior vice president for legal affairs, commented, "The interview was not doctored,” emphasizing how standard editing practices were followed without manipulation of Harris's comments. Nonetheless, Trump's lawsuit contends otherwise, claiming the edits were intentionally misleading. He accused CBS of engaging “in partisan and unlawful acts of election and voter interference,” alleging the edits were made to tip the electoral scales during the heated campaign.
Despite CBS’s firm stance against the lawsuit, Redstone’s potential openness to negotiation is perceived as prioritizing corporate interests over journalistic integrity. According to sources, many CBS executives—along with President of CBS News Wendy McMahon and ‘60 Minutes’ executive producer Bill Owens—strongly oppose settling, believing it sets a dangerous precedent.
Bird's-eye perspectives on the matter indicate how the media space is shifting, where settling with Trump has become increasingly common. Precedents set by companies like Meta Platforms, which recently acquiesced to Trump's demands, have opened the floodgates for others. They’ve demonstrated corporate resolve to avoid public conflicts with Trump’s business interests—actions some see as troubling for democracy.
While it is unclear whether Paramount Global will eventually agree to settle with Trump, legal experts have cautioned consistently against surrendering to what they label as meritless lawsuits. This situation exemplifies the bounds between media accountability and political influence—an overarching theme surfacing frequently since Trump’s departure from office and his influence lingers on corporate America.
Paramount’s discussions reflect broader corporate behavior amid the Trump era, where legal threats from the former administration invariably shape decision-making processes. The outcome of these negotiations could have deep ramifications: not just for CBS and Paramount but for the spirit of journalistic independence itself.
Days earlier, Redstone found herself caught between facilitating the merger with Skydance and reconciling the needs of her newsroom staff. CBS has maintained externally and internally the integrity of their operations, yet the tension is becoming hard to ignore. “If CBS caves, the belief we have an independent media protected by the First Amendment is undermined,” lamented Senator Bernie Sanders, emphasizing the crux of the apprehension among media watchdogs and advocates.
Whether Paramount will reach and under what terms remains uncertain, but discussions are undoubtedly igniting debates about the relationship between media and power—a saga yet to reveal its ultimate conclusion.