What were the main reasons behind Donald Trump's $16 million lawsuit settlement with Paramount Global?

The lawsuit arose from allegations that '60 Minutes' deceptively edited an October 2024 interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, which Trump claimed harmed his image and influenced the election. Despite limited legal merit, Paramount settled for $16 million, partly to secure regulatory approval for a pending $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media and to avoid prolonged litigation.

How did Donald Trump criticize '60 Minutes' and its journalists following the lawsuit settlement?

Trump criticized '60 Minutes' quality as deteriorated under Paramount's ownership, demanded apologies from CBS News and the show, and labeled journalist Lesley Stahl as 'washed up' and 'Trump hating' for what he deemed incorrect and libelous statements in prior interviews.

What concerns did experts and critics raise about the settlement of Trump's lawsuit with Paramount?

Critics argued the settlement threatened press freedom by yielding to a legally weak lawsuit; concerns were also raised about corporate influence affecting journalistic independence, especially as Paramount sought FCC approval for a large media merger concurrently.

Did the full unedited version of the '60 Minutes' interview support Trump's claims of deceptive editing?

No, CBS released the full unedited interview showing no manipulation or misconduct, undermining the basis of Trump's deception claims.

8 sources

•

17d ago

Donald Trump Settles Lawsuit with Paramount Global for $16 Million, Intensifies Criticism of '60 Minutes' and Marjorie Taylor Greene

Donald Trump settled a $16 million lawsuit with Paramount Global concerning a '60 Minutes' interview, concurrently criticizing the show's quality, CBS News, Lesley Stahl, and Marjorie Taylor Greene.

L 25%

C 38%

R 38%

Overview

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

Paramount Global settled a $16 million lawsuit with President Trump concerning the editing of a "60 Minutes" interview featuring Kamala Harris, marking a significant financial resolution.

President Trump criticized "60 Minutes" quality under Paramount's new ownership, stating the show has deteriorated and demanding apologies from CBS News and the program.

Trump publicly criticized journalist Lesley Stahl, labeling her "washed up" and "Trump hating," while demanding an apology for alleged "incorrect and libelous statements" in a previous interview.

President Trump condemned Marjorie Taylor Greene's "60 Minutes" appearance on Truth Social, calling her a "traitor" and a "rotten apple" for her views, which reportedly led to threats.

These actions highlight President Trump's ongoing contentious relationship with major news media outlets, particularly CBS News and "60 Minutes," over their coverage and editorial decisions.

Written using shared reports from

8 sources

Report issue

Analysis

Compare how each side frames the story — including which facts they emphasize or leave out.

Center-leaning sources cover the story neutrally, presenting a balanced account of Donald Trump's criticisms of '60 Minutes' and Marjorie Taylor Greene. They detail the public dispute, including both Trump's and Greene's differing explanations for their falling out, and provide relevant background on media mergers and past legal settlements without injecting overt editorial bias or consistently loaded language.

How we categorize media bias

Sources (8)

Compare how different news outlets are covering this story.

Sort By

Center (3)

Trump responds to "traitor" Marjorie Taylor Greene after "60 Minutes" interview

CBS News•17d ago

Donald Trump Lashes Out At Paramount Owners In Rant About Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Appearance On ‘60 Minutes’

Deadline•17d ago

Donald Trump slams '60 Minutes' for Marjorie 'Traitor' Greene interview

USA TODAY•17d ago

FAQ

Dig deeper on this story with frequently asked questions.

: The lawsuit arose from allegations that '60 Minutes' deceptively edited an October 2024 interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, which Trump claimed harmed his image and influenced the election. Despite limited legal merit, Paramount settled for $16 million, partly to secure regulatory approval for a pending $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media and to avoid prolonged litigation.
Sources:
MTSU First Amendment Center
: Trump criticized '60 Minutes' quality as deteriorated under Paramount's ownership, demanded apologies from CBS News and the show, and labeled journalist Lesley Stahl as 'washed up' and 'Trump hating' for what he deemed incorrect and libelous statements in prior interviews.
Sources:
Politico
: Trump condemned Marjorie Taylor Greene’s '60 Minutes' appearance on Truth Social, calling her a 'traitor' and a 'rotten apple' because of her views, which have reportedly led to threats against her.
Sources:
Politico
: Critics argued the settlement threatened press freedom by yielding to a legally weak lawsuit; concerns were also raised about corporate influence affecting journalistic independence, especially as Paramount sought FCC approval for a large media merger concurrently.
Sources:
Knight First Amendment Institute
: No, CBS released the full unedited interview showing no manipulation or misconduct, undermining the basis of Trump's deception claims.
Sources:
MTSU First Amendment Center

History

See how this story has evolved over time.

This story does not have any previous versions.