Trump, Paramount in Advanced Talks to Settle $20B Lawsuit

President Donald Trump and Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS News, are engaged in advanced settlement negotiations to resolve Trump's $20 billion lawsuit alleging that CBS deceptively edited a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris to favor her 2024 presidential campaign. The parties requested a court stay on proceedings until Thursday to allow these talks to continue, signaling progress toward a potential settlement that could be similar in scale to a previous $16 million ABC settlement with Trump. Paramount is motivated to settle partly due to upcoming shareholder meetings and its pending $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, which requires approval from the FCC chaired by Trump appointee Brendan Carr. CBS and Paramount maintain that the lawsuit is baseless and have defended their editorial practices, while some news employees have expressed dismay over the potential settlement. Reports indicate a mediator proposed a $20 million settlement including a donation to Trump’s presidential foundation and public service announcements, though Trump reportedly seeks a higher amount and an apology. The case highlights tensions between media companies and the Trump administration amid regulatory reviews and political disputes over media coverage.