President Trump’s $20 billion lawsuit against CBS over deceptively edited Kamala Harris interview has driven top executives to resign and forced Paramount into high-stakes settlement negotiations aimed at protecting their $8 billion merger.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump is suing CBS News for $20 billion, claiming deceptive editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris caused him “mental anguish” and financial harm
- Settlement negotiations have reportedly begun with Paramount (CBS parent company) offering $15 million while Trump demands at least $25 million plus an apology
- Paramount faces pressure to settle as they need Trump administration approval for their pending $8 billion merger with Skydance Media
- The lawsuit has already led to significant fallout at CBS, including resignations of 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens and CBS News chief Wendy McMahon
- Trump’s legal team argues CBS violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and federal Lanham Act by creating commercial speech not protected by the First Amendment
The $20 Billion Media Battle
President Trump’s legal team has escalated their fight against mainstream media bias by targeting CBS News with a massive lawsuit over what they claim was deliberately deceptive editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris. The lawsuit, originally seeking $10 billion but now amended to $20 billion, alleges CBS violated both the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the federal Lanham Act. The case focuses on interview segments about U.S.-Israel relations that Trump’s team argues were manipulated to present Harris favorably while damaging Trump’s reputation and business interests.
“Donald Trump’s legal team claims in a new court filing that the president suffered ‘mental anguish’ over the 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris at the center of his $20 billion lawsuit against CBS News, arguing that the network is wielding ‘the First Amendment as a sword.'” stated Donald Trump’s legal team.
The legal documents filed by Trump’s team present a compelling argument that goes beyond traditional First Amendment protections for journalism. Rather than claiming simple defamation, the lawsuit characterizes CBS’s actions as commercial speech competing directly with Trump’s media platforms. This novel approach attempts to circumvent the typically high bar for suing news organizations by framing the edited interview as a commercial activity designed to attract audience and advertisers away from Trump Media & Technology Group and its Truth Social platform.
🇺🇸 PARAMOUNT OFFERS $15 MILLION TO SETTLE TRUMP’S CBS LAWSUIT
Paramount Global has reportedly offered $15 million to settle Trump's lawsuit against CBS News.
Trump is reportedly asking for more than $25 million and a public apology.
Talks began a month ago but the two sides… https://t.co/KBtbyFHVFb pic.twitter.com/nXqpkdR8lX
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 28, 2025
Settlement Talks and Corporate Pressure
Behind the scenes, the lawsuit has reportedly triggered intense settlement negotiations between Paramount Global (CBS’s parent company) and Trump’s legal team. According to multiple sources, Paramount has offered approximately $15 million to settle the case, while Trump’s side is demanding at least $25 million plus a public apology. These negotiations take place against the backdrop of Paramount’s pending $8 billion merger with Skydance Media – a deal that requires approval from regulatory bodies under the Trump administration.
“because they were misled by Defendants’ false advertising and tampering with the entirety of the Interview, viewers withheld attention from President Trump and Truth Social by directing their attention to Defendants’ media platforms. This increased Defendants’ engagement, viewership, and advertising revenue, and decreased the value of President Trump’s ownership in TMTG and other media holdings,” stated Trump’s lawyers.
The potential settlement has sparked controversy within media circles. Democratic senators have warned that paying Trump could expose Paramount to liability or even criminal charges for what might be perceived as bribery to secure merger approval. The Freedom of the Press Foundation has threatened to sue Paramount if they reach a settlement with Trump, arguing it would create a dangerous precedent undermining press freedoms. Meanwhile, Paramount chair Shari Redstone has recused herself from the negotiations as the company prepares contingency plans should the Skydance merger collapse.
Media Distortion and First Amendment Battle
The core of Trump’s lawsuit revolves around accusations that CBS manipulated footage to mislead viewers. His legal team points to different versions of the same interview segments that appeared on 60 Minutes and Face the Nation, arguing they were deliberately edited to create confusion and distort public perception. CBS released an unedited transcript of the Harris interview, maintaining the broadcast was “not doctored or deceitful,” but Trump’s lawyers argue the damage was already done, requiring significant resources to correct the public record.
“This led to widespread confusion and mental anguish of consumers, including Plaintiffs, regarding a household name of the legacy media apparently deceptively distorting its broadcasts, and then resisting attempts to clear the public record, the opposition motion declares,” stated Donald Trump’s legal team.
Paramount has dismissed the lawsuit as “an affront to the First Amendment” and “without basis in law or fact.” However, Trump’s team counters that news organizations aren’t immune from accountability when they engage in deceptive practices. The case is being overseen by federal judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, who has granted multiple deadline extensions as settlement discussions continue. The litigation has already caused significant internal turmoil at CBS, with both 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens and CBS News chief Wendy McMahon resigning amid the controversy.
A Pattern of Media Accountability
This lawsuit is not an isolated incident but rather part of a broader strategy by President Trump to hold mainstream media outlets accountable for perceived bias. Trump previously sued ABC News and George Stephanopoulos, ultimately settling for $15 million plus $1 million in legal fees. The CBS case demonstrates Trump’s continued commitment to challenging media narratives that he believes unfairly target him. Whether through the courts or settlement negotiations, these actions send a clear message that deceptive editing practices and media manipulation will face consequences.
“The fact that such commercial speech was issued by a news organization does not insulate Defendants from liability under the First Amendment,” the objection states. “The First Amendment is no shield to news distortion,” stated Donald Trump’s legal team.
As the lawsuit progresses, it raises fundamental questions about the balance between press freedom and media accountability. While legal experts debate the merits of Trump’s specific claims, the case highlights growing public concern about journalistic integrity and the responsibility of news organizations to present information accurately. For conservatives who have long criticized mainstream media bias, this legal battle represents a significant challenge to what they view as systemic distortion in political coverage, potentially establishing new precedents for how news organizations can be held accountable for their editorial decisions.
