WASHINGTON: (Jul 9) Former U.S. President Donald Trump has reached a $16 million settlement with Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS News, over allegations that the network manipulated an interview with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 election. The settlement comes amid criticism that major media corporations are capitulating to Trump as they seek regulatory favor during sensitive merger proceedings.

Trump had originally filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the company in October, accusing CBS of broadcasting misleading content via its flagship news show 60 Minutes. He later increased the claim to $20 billion, arguing the editing of Harris’s responses about the Israel-Hamas war was intentionally deceptive and aimed at swaying public opinion in favor of the Democratic Party.

According to officials, Paramount will pay the $16 million to be allocated either toward Trump’s future presidential library or to charities of his choosing. Importantly, no payment will be made to Trump directly or indirectly, and the settlement includes no admission of wrongdoing or apology.

The legal dispute arose from CBS airing two versions of a Harris interview in which her answers appeared to differ on a sensitive geopolitical question. Trump alleged this was a coordinated effort to damage his campaign and threatened to revoke CBS’s broadcasting license if elected. CBS maintained that the suit was “completely without merit” and sought its dismissal.

However, in a late-night statement, Paramount disclosed the settlement just as it seeks approval for an $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, a process that requires sign-off from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) — currently chaired by Brendan Carr, a Trump ally.

The settlement also includes a provision requiring 60 Minutes to release full transcripts of future interviews with presidential candidates following broadcast, barring redactions for legal or national security reasons.

Trump’s legal team hailed the outcome as a victory for accountability. "Once again, President Trump holds the fake news media responsible for spreading misinformation," a spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal.

Legal experts and lawmakers, however, raised concerns. Senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Ron Wyden accused Paramount of potentially violating federal bribery laws by making concessions to a presidential candidate with power over regulatory outcomes.

“If this settlement is part of a quid pro quo to curry favor with Trump or influence FCC decisions, it could be illegal,” the senators wrote in a letter to Paramount Chair Shari Redstone.

Senator Bernie Sanders added:

“This is a dark day for independent journalism. It’s a win for a politician trying to silence dissent and undermine democracy.”

The case, originally filed in Amarillo, Texas, where the sole federal judge is a Trump appointee, entered mediation in April.

This development follows other high-profile settlements involving Trump and major media outlets:

• In January, Meta agreed to pay $25 million over its suspension of Trump’s social media accounts following the Capitol riot.

• ABC News paid $15 million to settle a defamation suit over anchor George Stephanopoulos' remarks that Trump was "found liable for rape" — a claim Trump's legal team disputed.

Meanwhile, Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem are reportedly considering action against CNN over its coverage of immigration enforcement and nuclear intelligence leaks.

The Paramount deal signals a broader trend of U.S. media conglomerates conceding to legal pressure as Trump ramps up his campaign and continues his offensive against what he brands as "fake news."