Paramount agrees to settle Trump suit over edited Harris comments on Israel

CBS parent company Paramount says it has settled a lawsuit filed by US President Donald Trump over an interview broadcast in October in which the network allegedly edited comments from then-vice president and presidential candidate Kamala Harris regarding ties with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and efforts to end the war in Gaza.

Paramount says it will pay $16 million to settle the suit, with the money allocated to Trump’s future presidential library, and not paid to Trump “directly or indirectly.”

“The settlement does not include a statement of apology or regret,” the company statement adds.

Trump filed the $10-billion lawsuit against CBS in October, alleging the network deceptively edited the “60 Minutes” interview to “tip the scales in favor of the Democratic Party” in the election. He later bumped his claim for damages to $20 billion.

The suit, filed in federal court in Texas, revolved around a teaser clip released by “60 Minutes” ahead of the show airing, in which Harris gave a drawn out response to questions about US leverage over Netanyahu. The final version that aired used a shorter, edited part of the clip.

Monday, on a 60 Minutes election special, Bill Whitaker asks Vice President Kamala Harris if the U.S. lacks influence over American ally Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. https://t.co/TG3WOCA23A pic.twitter.com/IH6MXMjuCP

— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 6, 2024

BREAKING: Paramount, CBS's parent, to pay $16M in settlement over Trump’s lawsuit alleging edited 60 Minutes Kamala Harris interview. pic.twitter.com/QFg4jPjBnh

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 2, 2025

The settlement comes as Paramount prepares for an $8.4-billion merger with Skydance Media, which will require approval from the US Federal Communications Commission.

CBS has been rocked by high-profile departures amid claims by staffers that they are being made to kowtow to Trump, who has repeatedly targeted media companies over what he claims is false or misleading content.

CBS previously said the lawsuit was “completely without merit” and had asked a judge to dismiss the case.