President Donald Trump announced this week that Paramount Global, parent company of CBS, paid him $16 million to settle a lawsuit over a controversial interview that aired on "60 Minutes."
The lawsuit, filed last year, accused CBS of editing an October broadcast with former Vice President Kamala Harris in a way that favored her politically.
According to Deadline, Trump argued the network misled the public by splitting Harris' full response between "Face the Nation" and "60 Minutes," calling it deceptive. CBS denied wrongdoing.
On Tuesday, Trump and Paramount formally agreed to drop the case, filing a notice of dismissal with prejudice in federal court, which means the case cannot be brought back. In a post on Truth Social, Trump called it a "BIG AND IMPORTANT WIN."
"Paramount/CBS/60 Minutes have today paid $16 Million Dollars in settlement," he wrote. "We also anticipate receiving $20 Million Dollars more from the new Owners."
However, Paramount has firmly denied any additional deals. The company said in a statement that the $16 million was the full settlement amount and that there were "no promises" made beyond that.
Trump Makes Shocking Claim His Settlement With Paramount Is Actually For $36 Million — And Threatens Other Outlets to Get in Line https://t.co/X6PHjxQkzE
— #TuckFrump (@realTuckFrumper) July 22, 2025
Trump Hints at More Payouts as Paramount Rejects Claim
Paramount also clarified that there were no agreements involving public service announcements (PSAs) or advertising content.
The $16 million is expected to go toward Trump's future presidential library. The settlement did not include any apology or admission of wrongdoing from Paramount.
The lawsuit's settlement came at a critical time for Paramount, as it seeks government approval for its $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, Reuters said.
Though the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has not made a final ruling, officials say Trump's lawsuit played no role in the delay. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr stated there was "no connection" between the lawsuit and the agency's review.
Trump hinted otherwise, using the dispute as a talking point when asked about the pending merger.
He also claimed, without evidence, that the settlement could include future payments in the form of PSAs or advertising—an assertion Skydance has not confirmed and Paramount has denied.
Adding fuel to the fire, Senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Ron Wyden wrote a letter this week to Skydance CEO David Ellison.
They raised concerns about a possible "side deal" and questioned whether it could violate federal bribery laws, especially since the Trump administration still has influence over regulatory decisions.
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