Trump Rejects $15M CBS Settlement, Demands $25M, Apology Amid $20B Lawsuit

President Donald Trump is engaged in ongoing settlement negotiations with CBS News and its parent company, Paramount Global, over his $20 billion lawsuit alleging deceptive editing of a "60 Minutes" interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, which Trump claims favored Harris and damaged his image. Paramount has offered $15 million to settle the case, but Trump demands at least $25 million and a public apology, while also threatening a second defamation lawsuit over a recent "60 Minutes" segment that portrayed him as a "mob boss" involved in criminal bribery. The lawsuit and its fallout are complicating Paramount's planned $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, which requires Federal Communications Commission approval under the Trump administration. Paramount executives, seeking to avoid exposing themselves to shareholder litigation or criminal charges, are cautious about settlement terms, with some advocating for amounts consistent with similar cases. CBS denies the allegations, maintains its editing was standard practice, and describes the lawsuit as baseless. The dispute highlights broader tensions between Trump and CBS, with Trump’s team accusing the network of bias and attempting to influence settlement talks through contentious coverage.