Paramount Considers Settlement As Trump’s $10B Lawsuit Pressures Merger Deal

Paramount Global is exploring a settlement with President Donald Trump to resolve a $10 billion lawsuit over CBS’s handling of an interview with Kamala Harris. The legal dispute has sparked internal conflict at CBS, with network journalists warning that a settlement would set a dangerous precedent for press freedom.

Trump’s lawsuit, filed in October 2024, accuses CBS of doctoring an interview with Harris to mislead voters. His legal team claims that a 60 Minutes segment edited Harris’ response to a question about U.S. foreign policy, replacing her original, rambling answer with a polished response that was absent from the written transcript. CBS has defended its editing process, stating that the aired version was a legitimate selection from the full interview.

Shari Redstone, the controlling shareholder of Paramount Global, is reportedly eager to resolve the case, particularly as Paramount negotiates a merger with Skydance Media. The deal, which could bring Redstone hundreds of millions of dollars, requires regulatory approval from the FCC—an agency now overseen by Trump ally Brendan Carr. A resolution to Trump’s lawsuit may improve the company’s chances of securing approval for the merger.

Within CBS, the potential settlement has led to outrage. Staffers at the network are frustrated that Paramount executives are considering financial negotiations with Trump rather than fighting the lawsuit in court. “Settling this case would be an admission that political pressure can override journalistic independence,” one CBS insider said. Legal analysts have described the lawsuit as weak, arguing that CBS’ editorial decisions are protected under the First Amendment.

However, the Trump administration has signaled that the lawsuit could play a role in its review of the Paramount-Skydance merger. The FCC has already sent CBS a request for the unedited Harris interview footage, adding another layer of scrutiny to the case.

Trump has previously reached settlements with media companies. In 2024, ABC and Meta both agreed to financial settlements over separate disputes, with ABC contributing $15 million to Trump’s presidential library and Meta paying $22 million in legal fees. If Paramount follows suit, it would mark yet another major corporate concession to the Trump legal strategy.