Unexpected twist: Just hours ago, Trump responded to CBS’ $20 billion settlement offer over the 60 Minutes case — and it caught everyone off guard…
In a dramatic and unexpected twist, President Donald Trump has officially rejected a multimillion-dollar settlement offer from CBS News regarding his $20 billion defamation lawsuit. The lawsuit stems from an explosive claim that CBS’ flagship program, 60 Minutes, deliberately doctored footage from a high-profile interview with then–Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 election.
President Donald Trump Rejects CBS Settlement Offer in 60 Minutes Lawsuit
According to sources close to the matter, Paramount Global — CBS’s parent company — quietly offered $15 million to Trump’s legal team in hopes of resolving the escalating scandal. But Trump has flatly turned down the offer, declaring it “not even close” to what he demands. His counter? At least $25 million and a formal public apology.
The president’s refusal signals a sharp escalation in a battle that is quickly snowballing into a historic legal and political showdown between a sitting U.S. president and one of America’s most powerful media conglomerates.
What the Lawsuit Alleges About CBS and 60 Minutes
Filed in October 2024, Trump’s lawsuit claims that CBS selectively edited Kamala Harris’s responses to sensitive questions — particularly those involving the Israel–Hamas conflict — removing stammering or unclear segments and replacing them with polished responses from a separate portion of the interview.
According to the lawsuit, the manipulation was intentional, designed to present Harris as competent and composed while undermining Trump’s image with the American electorate just weeks before the election. The broadcast aired nationwide and was viewed by millions.
CBS has denied the allegations, calling them “entirely baseless” and asserting that the final cut of the interview was in line with standard journalistic practices.
The Bigger Picture: CBS, Trump, and the Paramount-Skydance Merger
This legal clash has sent shockwaves not only through political circles but also across Wall Street. Trump’s rejection of the CBS offer threatens to delay — or even derail — Paramount’s proposed $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, a deal that is currently awaiting regulatory approval from the Trump-led Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The lawsuit, and Trump’s control over the FCC, gives the president unprecedented leverage. Many analysts believe that unless CBS settles on Trump’s terms, he may move to block the merger entirely, citing concerns over “media manipulation” and “abuse of public trust.”
Why Trump Is Holding the Line
For Trump, the issue goes beyond money. Insiders say he views the CBS lawsuit as a cornerstone in his larger campaign against what he calls “corrupt corporate media.” He believes the interview with Harris was a deliberate attempt to interfere with the 2024 election and is determined to hold CBS accountable.
“This was not just a bad edit,” said one insider close to Trump’s legal team. “This was election interference. You don’t settle that quietly.”
Media Fallout: Resignations Rock CBS News
The controversy has already triggered a leadership shakeup inside CBS News. Wendy McMahon, the network’s president, abruptly resigned earlier this month, citing “differences in direction.” Her departure followed that of Bill Owens, the longtime executive producer of 60 Minutes, who stepped down amid concerns over editorial independence.
The resignations have deepened concerns within CBS over whether the company’s leadership, especially Paramount chairwoman Shari Redstone, is prioritizing corporate deals over journalistic integrity.
Veteran anchor Scott Pelley added fuel to the fire when he hinted during a recent broadcast that Paramount had begun to “supervise our content in new ways,” an unprecedented admission of possible editorial interference.
Trump’s Legal Momentum
Trump’s hardball approach appears to be paying off. In the past few months alone, he has secured major settlements from other media giants: $25 million from Meta (formerly Facebook), $15 million from ABC News, and $10 million from X (formerly Twitter).
With these victories under his belt, Trump seems emboldened to push CBS — and by extension, Paramount — even harder.
Paramount has reportedly increased its offer, now willing to pay up to $50 million just to make the lawsuit disappear. If accepted, the payout would rank among the largest media defamation settlements in U.S. history.
Shari Redstone and the Cost of Compromise
Shari Redstone, the heiress to the CBS legacy and the current chairwoman of Paramount Global, is said to be personally leading the effort to end the lawsuit. A successful merger with Skydance Media could net her as much as $2 billion.
But Redstone is walking a tightrope. Legal experts warn that any settlement with Trump could be perceived as a “bribe” to gain favor with the White House and fast-track regulatory approvals. That could expose Paramount to shareholder lawsuits or even criminal investigations.
“If settling Trump’s demands looks like a payoff, Paramount could be opening the door to criminal liability,” one media attorney told The New York Post. “This is legally radioactive.”
The Future of 60 Minutes Under Fire
As for 60 Minutes, the iconic newsmagazine remains in the eye of the storm. Trump has called for its cancellation, accusing it of “knowingly lying to the American people.” His close ally, billionaire Elon Musk, even suggested that those responsible for the edited interview “should face serious jail time.”
Despite the backlash, 60 Minutes continues to air critical reports about the Trump administration. But with key staff gone, internal morale shaken, and political pressure mounting, the show’s future is uncertain.
Conclusion: A Legal and Political Showdown of Historic Scale
The battle between Trump and CBS over the allegedly doctored 60 Minutes interview is no longer just a defamation case — it has become a symbol of the escalating war between politics and the media in America.
With the presidency, corporate mergers, billions of dollars, and journalistic freedom all hanging in the balance, this unexpected twist could reshape the media landscape for years to come.
Stay tuned as this unprecedented clash between a sitting president and a media giant continues to unfold.
