Trump Rejects Paramount Settlement Offer
In a legal saga entangling politics, media, and millions in settlement talks, President Donald Trump has rejected a $15 million offer from Paramount Global to settle a high-profile lawsuit. Trump is reportedly holding out for at least $25 million—and a formal apology from CBS News, the network at the heart of the controversy.
The origins of the dispute trace back to a November lawsuit filed by Trump against CBS News, a Paramount subsidiary.
The suit claims that the network deceptively edited a 2020 “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, manipulating the footage to give Harris a more articulate and composed appearance than her actual performance warranted. Paramount has denied the accusation, insisting the interview “was not doctored or deceitful.”
Yet for Trump, the damage was done. The lawsuit frames the CBS segment not just as biased journalism, but as a deliberate attempt to sway the 2020 election. That’s why, insiders say, a financial settlement alone isn’t enough—the former president wants an admission of wrongdoing.
The legal wrangling couldn’t come at a more turbulent time for Paramount Global. The company is currently navigating a complicated $8 billion merger with Skydance Media. The lawsuit with Trump is proving to be more than a distraction—it’s now a high-stakes liability.
Sources say that federal review of the merger must pass through the very administration that Trump now leads, intensifying the pressure on Paramount’s boardroom strategy.
The internal strain is already showing. CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon abruptly resigned earlier this month, citing a split with corporate leadership over the Trump settlement.
In a candid memo to staff, McMahon acknowledged her resistance to issuing any form of apology, a stance that placed her at odds with other executives. “It’s become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward,” she wrote. “It’s time for me to move on.”
Paramount’s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, has reportedly distanced herself from the lawsuit as she focuses on closing the merger deal. However, the legal shadow cast by Trump’s demands could stretch far beyond the courtroom and into Paramount’s corporate future.