Trump vs. CBS – $20 Billion MEDIATION!

President Donald Trump and Paramount Global head to mediation over a $20 billion lawsuit centering on alleged deceptive editing, with the outcome potentially impacting both free press principles and an $8 billion corporate merger.

At a Glance

  • Paramount Global and President Trump begin mediation in a $20 billion lawsuit regarding a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris
  • Trump alleges CBS News violated Texas consumer protection laws by deceptively editing Harris’s responses on the Israel-Hamas conflict
  • The legal battle complicates Paramount’s pending $8 billion merger with Skydance Media
  • The FCC is investigating the interview for potential “news distortion” violations and must approve the merger
  • CBS News defends its editorial decisions as protected by First Amendment rights

Legal Battle Centers on “60 Minutes” Interview

A court-appointed mediator will oversee negotiations between President Donald Trump and Paramount Global in a $20 billion lawsuit that claims CBS News’ “60 Minutes” deceptively edited an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. 

The Texas federal court has mandated that mediation be completed by December 20, 2025, though reaching a settlement remains uncertain. Trump’s legal team alleges the news program violated Texas consumer protection laws by editing Harris’s responses on the Israel-Hamas conflict to appear more coherent than they actually were.

The case gained additional complexity when Trump expanded the lawsuit to include claims under the federal Lanham Act and added Congressman Ronny Jackson as a co-plaintiff. Both plaintiffs claim they were misled by the interview’s presentation. CBS News has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that its editorial decisions are protected by the First Amendment and that consumer fraud laws do not apply to journalistic speech. 

Corporate Stakes and Merger Implications

The legal confrontation comes at a critical time for Paramount Global, which is attempting to finalize an $8 billion merger with Skydance Media. The deal has been extended by 90 days as parties work through regulatory approvals, including mandatory review by the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC’s involvement is particularly significant as the agency is simultaneously investigating CBS’s “60 Minutes” segment for potential “news distortion” violations, creating a complex regulatory environment for the proposed merger. 

According to CBS: “The Complaint filed against CBS for ‘news distortion’ envisions a less free world in which the federal government becomes a roving censor — one that second guesses and even punishes specific editorial decisions that are an essential part of producing news programming.” 

Despite these challenges, Paramount has publicly maintained that the legal dispute with Trump is separate from the merger process. A company spokesperson stated the lawsuit “is completely separate from, and unrelated to, the Skydance transaction and the FCC approval process. We will abide by the legal process to defend our case.” However, industry observers note that Shari Redstone, Paramount’s controlling shareholder, has expressed interest in mediation as a potential path to facilitate merger approval. 

Editorial Independence vs. Corporate Interests

The potential settlement has created internal tension at CBS News, with some “60 Minutes” employees expressing concern that reaching an agreement with Trump would damage the news organization’s journalistic reputation. Bill Owens, executive producer of “60 Minutes,” has reportedly stated he would not issue an apology as part of any settlement. The network has provided materials to the FCC related to the segment, maintaining that the broadcast was journalistically sound and not deceptive. 

“President Trump will pursue this vital matter to its just and rightful conclusion,” says Ed Paltzik.

The legal dispute occurs against the backdrop of Trump’s broader confrontations with media organizations. In a separate case, Trump sued ABC News and George Stephanopoulos for defamation, which resulted in a $15 million settlement with Disney and ABC News. 

The outcome of the CBS case could establish precedent for how news organizations handle editorial decisions under legal scrutiny. Corporate leadership at Paramount appears divided between protecting journalistic principles and pursuing strategic business objectives that would be facilitated by resolving the lawsuit.

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