President Donald Trump has turned down a $15 million settlement proposal from Paramount Global, escalating his $20 billion lawsuit against CBS News. The lawsuit claims that a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris was deceptively edited during the 2024 campaign, presenting her in a favorable light while allegedly causing reputational and emotional harm to Trump.
Trump is not only seeking a larger settlement but also demanding a public apology from CBS, arguing that the edited footage misled the public and damaged his image during a critical point in the election cycle.
The rejected settlement offer comes as Paramount faces pressure related to its upcoming merger with Skydance Media, a deal that must be reviewed by federal regulators. Some insiders speculate that resolving the lawsuit is seen as key to smoothing the path forward for the merger.
Leadership changes have already rocked CBS in the wake of the lawsuit, with both the network’s president and a top producer of “60 Minutes” stepping down amid internal disagreements over how to handle the legal threat.
Trump’s legal team maintains that the case raises serious concerns about biased media coverage and the limits of editorial discretion when public trust is at stake. The dispute is expected to continue drawing national attention as it proceeds.