CBS, Paramount to pay Trump $16 MILLION over Kamala’s edited 60 Minutes interview

According to Fox News, Trump will receive $16 million upfront. The money is expected to cover legal fees, case-related expenses, and potential contributions to Trump’s future presidential library or charitable efforts, at his discretion.

In addition to the cash settlement, the outlet reported that CBS is anticipated to allocate a significant sum — reportedly in the mid-eight-figure range — toward conservative-friendly public service announcements, advertisements, or similar messaging. Paramount management has disputed this portion of the settlement.

The agreement also includes a sweeping editorial change known internally as the “Trump Rule”: CBS will now be required to release full, unedited transcripts of interviews with presidential candidates promptly going forward.

“With this record settlement, President Donald J. Trump delivers another win for the American people as he, once again, holds the Fake News media accountable for their wrongdoing and deceit,” a spokesperson for Trump’s legal team told Fox News. “President Trump will always ensure that no one gets away with lying to the American People.”

Trump originally sought $20 billion in damages in his suit alleging that 60 Minutes had deceptively edited the 2024 interview with then–Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris during an exchange where correspondent Bill Whitaker asked Harris why Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasn’t “listening” to the Biden administration.

In a preview aired on Face the Nation, Harris was shown giving a rambling “word salad” response. However, during the primetime special, CBS aired a more polished version of the same answer, sparking accusations that the network edited the footage to make Harris look better.

Raw transcripts and footage released by the FCC earlier this year confirmed both versions were part of the same response and that CBS had split the answer in two, broadcasting different portions in different programs. Critics and Trump’s legal team alleged the edit was deliberately misleading and amounted to election interference.

CBS previously denied any wrongdoing and said it stood by its reporting. However, mounting pressure from federal investigators and a looming FCC probe prompted CBS to release the unedited transcript, which became a key piece of evidence in Trump’s amended complaint.

Sources familiar with the matter say mediation was driven by concern within Paramount’s executives, as the company pursues a merger with Skydance Media. Shari Redstone, Paramount’s controlling shareholder, reportedly pushed for a resolution to avoid complications with the FCC, which has the authority to delay or block media mergers. Paramount claimed the settlement is “completely separate” from the Skydance transaction. The CBS settlement does not include a statement of regret or any formal admission of journalistic wrongdoing. Paramount said in a statement that the settlement “includes a release of all claims regarding any CBS reporting through the date of the settlement.”

60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens left the network in April, claiming he no longer had editorial independence. CBS News President and CEO Wendy McMahon resigned in May, stating at the time, “It’s become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward.”

Despite the internal dissent, Paramount moved forward with the settlement, which surpasses the $15 million ABC paid Trump last year to settle a separate defamation lawsuit involving anchor George Stephanopoulos. In that case, ABC also paid an additional $1 million to cover Trump’s legal expenses.