Trump rejects $15mln settlement offer in $20bln Paramount lawsuit

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
30 May 2025 09:04

Trump's legal team is demanding no less than $25 million, along with a formal apology from CBS News.

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President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing-in ceremony for interim US Attorney General for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in the Oval Office of Washington. (AP)

US President Donald Trump and Paramount Global remain locked in a legal dispute, as mediation efforts in Trump’s $20 billion lawsuit against the media conglomerate have yet to yield an agreement, Fox News reported.

According to a source familiar with the matter, Trump rejected a $15 million settlement offer, while his legal team is demanding no less than $25 million along with a formal apology from CBS News.

The lawsuit, initially filed in October for $10 billion and later increased to $20 billion, centers on allegations of election interference. Trump sued both Paramount and CBS News over the network’s handling of a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the weeks leading up to the presidential election.

Controversy over CBS News' Kamala Harris interview

At the heart of the Trump-CBS News lawsuit is a claim that the outlet manipulated Harris's interview to favor the Democratic ticket. During the interview, correspondent Bill Whitaker questioned Harris on why Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasn’t “listening” to the Biden administration.

The preview clip aired on “Face the Nation” featured Harris giving what many critics described as a “word salad” response. A different, more concise version of her response aired later during a primetime special. Critics accused CBS News of intentionally editing the footage to protect the Democratic candidate from public criticism.

Later, raw footage and transcripts released by the FCC indicated that both responses were part of the same exchange. CBS News reportedly aired only the first half in the initial preview and the second half in the primetime broadcast.

CBS News has denied any wrongdoing and maintains that its editorial practices were in line with journalistic standards.

Settlement talks and Paramount’s merger concerns

Shari Redstone, Paramount's controlling shareholder, recused herself from settlement talks earlier this year but has reportedly advocated for resolving the Trump-Paramount lawsuit.

Fox News cited sources suggesting Redstone hopes a settlement will remove a potential obstacle to Paramount’s planned multibillion-dollar merger with Skydance Media. The deal still requires approval from the FCC, which is currently overseen by the Trump administration.

Internal tensions have surfaced within the company amid the legal battle. Reports emerged of Redstone attempting to monitor the network’s coverage of Trump until the merger is finalized, a move that allegedly contributed to the resignation of “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens, who cited compromised editorial independence.

CBS News staff reactions, fallout

The lawsuit has sparked broader debate within CBS News. The recent departure of the outlet's CEO Wendy McMahon, who reportedly clashed with the company over its handling of the matter, further fueled speculation about internal dissent.

Meanwhile, “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley made headlines with a commencement speech at Wake Forest University, in which he sharply criticized Trump and addressed the lawsuit.

"Why attack universities? Why attack journalism? Because ignorance works for power," Pelley told graduates. "First, make the truth seekers live in fear, sue the journalists and their companies for nothing..."

His remarks went viral and were widely interpreted as a response to ongoing political and legal pressures on the media.