President Donald Trump has rejected a $15 million settlement offer from Paramount Global, escalating his $20 billion lawsuit against CBS News over what he calls a “blatantly deceitful” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris aired during the 2024 campaign season.
At the center of the legal battle is an edited segment on 60 Minutes, which Trump’s legal team argues was deliberately manipulated to cast Harris in an unrealistically favorable light. The lawsuit accuses CBS of election interference, alleging that selective editing helped shield Harris from tough scrutiny while misrepresenting key exchanges. Trump claims the broadcast caused him mental anguish and deflected public attention from his platform on Truth Social.
The former president is not just seeking financial damages—he’s demanding a full retraction and formal public apology from CBS News. According to sources close to the matter, Trump’s attorneys are preparing to file additional legal complaints if the network refuses to address what they describe as systemic bias.
Fallout from the lawsuit has already shaken CBS News internally. Two top executives—CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon and 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens—have reportedly resigned after expressing opposition to settling with Trump. Their departures underscore the growing tension within the network as it attempts to balance journalistic credibility with legal exposure.
The legal drama comes at a particularly sensitive time for Paramount, which is pursuing an $8 billion merger with Skydance Media. The pending deal requires federal approval, and some lawmakers have voiced concern that capitulating to Trump’s demands could set a dangerous precedent for press freedom. Others argue that media organizations must be held accountable when they cross the line from journalism into political propaganda.
Despite the hefty offer on the table, Trump has made it clear he’s not interested in backing down. A mediation session is reportedly on the horizon, but unless CBS agrees to his terms—which include more than $25 million in damages and a televised apology—sources say the lawsuit will proceed.
Trump’s team must now respond to Paramount’s motion to dismiss the case by Wednesday. In the meantime, the battle lines are drawn, and the media world is bracing for what could be one of the most consequential legal showdowns between a former U.S. president and a major news network in history.