Trump, CBS Parent Paramount Near $20B Lawsuit Settlement

President Donald Trump is close to securing a settlement with CBS and its parent company Paramount over his $20 billion lawsuit alleging deceptive editing of an interview with then-candidate Kamala Harris on 60 Minutes. The suit claims the network manipulated footage to favor Harris's presidential campaign, a charge CBS has denied as baseless. Negotiations have advanced to a point where a mediator proposed a $20 million settlement, with Trump expected to receive $16 million for legal fees and additional funds for a presidential library and preferred charities, along with advertising and content supporting conservative causes. As part of the resolution, CBS will implement a new 'Trump rule' requiring the rapid release of unedited transcripts for interviews with presidential candidates. The litigation and settlement talks have prompted internal upheaval at CBS, including the resignations of 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens and CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon, both citing disagreements over the network's direction and handling of the lawsuit. Paramount also expressed concerns about the settlement's impact on an $8 billion merger approval pending with the Trump administration, though Trump's team denied any linkage between the settlement and regulatory approvals.