Paramount Announces $16 Million Settlement to Resolve Trump Lawsuit, Clearing Path for Skydance Merger
In a significant development, Paramount has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump against its subsidiary, CBS. This settlement paves the way for the media giant’s highly anticipated multibillion-dollar merger with Skydance Media to gain approval from the Biden administration.
Paramount confirmed that the settlement amount includes Trump’s legal fees and costs, with the funds designated for his future presidential library rather than paid directly to him. Although the sum is well below the $10 billion (later increased to $20 billion) in damages Trump initially sought in October, the lawsuit centered on allegations that CBS News deceptively edited a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris to mislead voters during the presidential campaign.
According to reports, Trump was willing to drop the lawsuit in exchange for over $25 million and a public apology. However, Paramount stated that the settlement does not include any statement of apology or regret. Instead, the company agreed to release transcripts of future 60 Minutes interviews with eligible U.S. presidential candidates, aiming to promote transparency.
Trump’s legal team praised the settlement, claiming it was “another win for the American people” and an effort to hold “fake news media” accountable. They argued that CBS and Paramount realized the strength of the case and had no choice but to settle.
Legal experts viewed the lawsuit as lacking merit but acknowledged that Paramount faced pressure to resolve the matter quickly—especially as its merger plans with Skydance require approval from the Trump administration. Paramount clarified that the lawsuit was entirely separate from the Skydance deal and FCC approval process, affirming its commitment to defend against any legal challenges through proper channels.
This settlement marks one of several recent legal agreements involving media, technology firms, law firms, and universities, reflecting the ongoing influence of Trump over American institutions and the political landscape.
