Bob Costas Criticizes Mainstream Media for Supporting Trump Amid Lawsuit Settlements

Veteran sportscaster Bob Costas delivered a pointed critique of the mainstream media's handling of President Donald Trump's second term, highlighting how media companies have capitulated to the president's legal pressures. At the 2025 Mirror Awards, where he received the Fred Dressler Leadership Award, Costas condemned ABC News for settling a $15 million defamation lawsuit filed by Trump over comments made by George Stephanopoulos, arguing that a simple correction would have sufficed instead of paying a 'ransom.' He also criticized Paramount Global, controlled by Shari Redstone, for attempting to settle a frivolous lawsuit brought by Trump against a '60 Minutes' segment, a move seen as motivated by the desire to secure regulatory approval for a merger with Skydance Media. Costas described these settlements as ongoing assaults on the free press and the basic principles of American democracy, emphasizing that the president's actions represent a unique and unprecedented challenge to journalistic independence. Despite acknowledging some flaws within the media, Costas underscored the stark difference between objective reporting and false equivalency in covering Trump, stressing that the president shows contempt for fundamental American values. His remarks highlight the tension between media integrity and corporate interests amid Trump's influence over regulatory bodies.