Donald Trump is seeking a substantial settlement from CBS, potentially exceeding $100 million, to resolve a lawsuit alleging the network deceptively edited an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election. The lawsuit, filed in a Texas court, centers around a "60 Minutes" interview where Trump claims Harris's answers were manipulated to portray her in a more favorable light.
Sources familiar with the negotiations indicate that Trump's legal team is prepared to demand a nine-figure sum, significantly surpassing the $16 million settlement reached with ABC and the $25 million settlement with Meta in recent weeks. These negotiations began last week, focusing on the controversial "60 Minutes" interview.
Trump's team has yet to formally present a settlement offer to Paramount, CBS's parent company. However, a source close to Trump's legal team suggests that a demand of $100 million or more is not out of the question. This aggressive approach mirrors the tactics employed by Trump's legal team during the defamation suit against ABC, where they initially sought a settlement three times the amount eventually agreed upon.
The negotiations with CBS have drawn attention due to Paramount Global's ongoing merger with Skydance Media, a deal valued at $8 billion. The merger is facing scrutiny from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which has scheduled a public hearing next month to address allegations of "news distortion" against CBS News. The FCC's decision on the merger could be influenced by the outcome of Trump's lawsuit.
Trump has publicly condemned CBS, accusing the network of election interference and fraud. He has called for the revocation of CBS's broadcasting license and has filed a $10 billion lawsuit, citing "news distortion rules." The FCC, under the leadership of Trump-appointed chair Brendan Carr, has released the unedited transcript and video of Harris's "60 Minutes" interview, revealing that the network significantly shortened one of her answers about Israel.
Legal experts and media commentators have expressed concerns about the potential implications of Trump's lawsuit, arguing that it could set a dangerous precedent for politicians to exert control over news media. They emphasize the right of broadcasters to edit interviews for time constraints and editorial judgment.
Paramount Global, facing pressure from the FCC and Trump's legal team, is reportedly considering settling the lawsuit to expedite the merger with Skydance Media. However, some CBS employees have expressed concerns that settling would be seen as a form of bribery and could embolden Trump to pursue further lawsuits against media outlets.