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Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS News, has reportedly offered a multi-million-dollar settlement to President Donald Trump in an attempt to resolve his $20 billion lawsuit against the network.
Trump filed the suit over what he claims was a misleadingly edited “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, who was also the Democratic presidential nominee at the time.
While it’s common for networks to edit interviews for length, Trump’s legal team argues that the alterations in this instance removed critical context and rearranged answers to misrepresent Harris.
Although the full settlement amount has not been disclosed, The Wall Street Journal reported that Paramount proposed $15 million in an offer that Trump’s legal team rejected. The president is reportedly seeking $25 million and a formal apology from the network.
“It’s very early days,” a source familiar with the talks told Deadline. “An opening offer has been made, but more negotiations are underway … Right now, it’s an eight-figure discussion.”
The dispute has escalated as Trump considers filing another lawsuit against CBS, citing what he describes as ongoing political bias in its coverage. Both sides are expected to meet for further negotiations on Thursday, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The lawsuit has also raised questions about a proposed merger between Paramount and Skydance Media. The deal would require regulatory approval from the Trump administration, potentially complicating the transaction amid the ongoing legal battle.
In April, Bill Owens, the producer of the CBS news program “60 Minutes,” stepped down following backlash after the lawsuit over the controversial editing of the Harris interview.
“My 60 Minutes priorities have always been clear. Maybe not smart, but clear,” Owens wrote to staff in a note obtained by The Hill.
“Over the past months, it has also become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it,” he continued. “To make independent decisions based on what was right for 60 Minutes, right for the audience.”
According to a report by The New York Times, Owens stated in a memo, “So, having defended this show — and what we stand for — from every angle, over time with everything I could, I am stepping aside so the show can move forward.”