Trump, Paramount in Advanced $20B Lawsuit Settlement Talks

U.S. President Donald Trump and Paramount Global are engaged in advanced settlement talks to resolve a $20 billion defamation lawsuit stemming from a "60 Minutes" interview Trump alleges was deceptively edited to favor Kamala Harris. The lawsuit has delayed Paramount's $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, as the Federal Communications Commission has withheld approval pending resolution of the dispute. Both parties requested a stay in court proceedings to continue negotiations, with a mediator recently proposing a $20 million settlement, most of which would go to Trump's presidential foundation, though Trump insists on an apology. Paramount has dismissed the lawsuit as a meritless attack on the First Amendment, and the dispute has caused significant internal tensions, including the departure of top executives citing loss of journalistic independence. The settlement is seen as critical for the merger's approval, with the deadline approaching and Paramount expected to abandon the deal if no agreement is reached. Meanwhile, Trump's previous defamation suits have resulted in multimillion-dollar settlements with other media and tech companies.