Trump Claims Side Deal Doubles ‘60 Minutes’ $16M Settlement

President Donald Trump claimed that his $16 million settlement with Paramount Global over a '60 Minutes' lawsuit is effectively worth $32 to $35 million due to an alleged side deal involving advertising commitments. Trump referenced a reported agreement with Skydance Media CEO David Ellison, under which Skydance promised to run $15 million to $20 million worth of public service announcements promoting causes supported by Trump, contingent on a pending $8 billion merger between Skydance and Paramount that requires regulatory approval. Paramount has officially denied any knowledge or involvement in such a side deal, stressing that the settlement includes no public service announcements or other advertising commitments beyond the agreed payout. Sources close to the deal and media reports suggest this arrangement was a strategic move to avoid bribery allegations and to enhance the overall value of the settlement without direct payments to Trump. Trump praised David Ellison and his father Larry Ellison, indicating a close relationship that may have influenced the negotiations. The settlement resolves Trump's lawsuit alleging deceptive editing of a Kamala Harris interview, a case that was widely regarded as without merit by legal experts.