Paramount Global has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit brought by former President Donald Trump over the editing of a 2024 “60 Minutes” interview with then–Vice President Kamala Harris. The payment will go toward funding Trump’s future presidential library and not to him personally, according to Paramount. The settlement does not include an apology or admission of wrongdoing.
Trump’s legal team argued that the segment, aired in October, misrepresented Harris by editing her responses to appear more coherent and favorable, while omitting context. CBS News maintained the edits were standard and in line with journalistic norms, calling the lawsuit “without merit.”
Under the mediated agreement, “60 Minutes” will also commit to releasing transcripts of all future presidential candidate interviews, with redactions only permitted for legal or national security reasons. Paramount executives described the settlement as a business decision to avoid legal uncertainty and escalating costs.
The decision has sparked internal dissent at CBS News. Several “60 Minutes” correspondents condemned the settlement, warning it could set a chilling precedent for press freedom. CBS News President Wendy McMahon and executive producer Bill Owens have both resigned amid internal tensions over the case.
