A mediator has stepped in with a new proposal to help settle the lawsuit involving President Donald Trump and Paramount Global, according to people familiar with the talks. The Wall Street Journal reports that the proposed agreement could total $20 million and would bring an end to the legal dispute over CBS News’ “60 Minutes” interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Mediator offers deal in Trump, CBS dispute
According to the WSJ, the proposed settlement would direct $17 million to either Trump’s foundation or a planned presidential museum. Paramount would also fund a series of public service announcements on antisemitism and cover legal fees as part of the deal.
Trump, however, wants the settlement to include a formal apology from the network. Sources indicate that Paramount has not agreed to that part of the deal and is unlikely to do so.
The lawsuit against CBS News, which is owned by Paramount Global, stems from a “60 Minutes” segment with former Vice President Harris. In October 2024, Trump filed a $20 billion suit against the network, alleging the interview was deceptively edited during the presidential race, amounting to election interference. CBS has said the interview was edited for time and noted that a full version, including Harris’ complete answers, was made available online.
Trump rejects previous offer, pushes for public apology
Paramount reportedly offered President Trump $15 million to settle the lawsuit on May 28, but he rejected the offer, insisting on a $25 million payout along with a public apology from CBS. The Wall Street Journal said Paramount has been working to ensure the settlement does not expose its top executives to future legal or criminal liability, especially on concerns that the deal could be viewed as bribing a public official.
The lawsuit is hanging over the expected merger between Paramount and Skydance Media, particularly as Trump alleges that CBS edited the video in a deceptive manner. Brendan Carr, the chair of the Federal Communications Commission, said an inquiry is underway to review how the interview was edited. Depending on the findings, the FCC could use its discretion over the planned merger, potentially affecting whether the deal goes through.
Media giants settle other Trump lawsuits
Several major media and tech companies have resolved legal battles with Trump. Meta Platforms also closed a lawsuit in January, originally filed by Trump in 2021, after the company banned his accounts following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. That settlement came in January and totaled $25 million.
Disney reached a deal in December 2024 to end a defamation case tied to ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos. A total of $15 million from the settlement was allocated to Trump’s presidential foundation.
