Paramount settles with Trump over 60 Minutes interview

West Australian

4 days ago

CBS parent company Paramount has settled a lawsuit filed by US President Donald Trump over an interview broadcast in October, the latest concession by a media company to a president who has targeted outlets over what he describes as false or misleading coverage.
Paramount said it would pay $US16 million ($A24 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 on Wednesday said.
Trump filed a $US10 billion lawsuit against CBS in October, alleging the network deceptively edited an interview that aired on its 60 Minutes news program with then-vice-president and presidential candidate Kamala Harris to "tip the scales in favour of the Democratic Party" in the election.
In an amended complaint filed in February, Trump bumped his claim for damages to $US20 billion.
CBS aired two versions of the Harris interview in which she appears to give different answers to the same question about the Israel-Hamas war, according to the lawsuit filed in federal court in Texas.
CBS previously said the lawsuit was "completely without merit" and had asked a judge to dismiss the case.
The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment.
Paramount said it also agreed that 60 Minutes would release transcripts of interviews with future US presidential candidates after they aired, subject to redactions as required for legal or national security concerns.
The case entered mediation in April.
Trump alleged CBS's editing of the interview violated the consumer protection laws that make it illegal to use false, misleading or deceptive acts in commerce.
Media advocacy groups said Trump's novel use of such laws against news outlets could be a way of circumventing legal protections for the media, which can only be held liable for defamation against public figures if they say something they knew or should have known was false.
The settlement comes as Paramount prepares for an $US8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, which will require approval from the US Federal Communications Commission.
On the campaign trail in 2024, Trump threatened to revoke CBS's broadcasting licence if elected.
He has repeatedly lashed out against the news media, often casting unfavourable coverage as "fake news".
The Paramount settlement follows a decision by Walt Disney-owned ABC News to settle a defamation case brought by Trump.
As part of that settlement, which was made public in December, the network donated $US15 million to Trump's presidential library and publicly apologised for comments by anchor George Stephanopoulos, who inaccurately said Trump had been found liable for rape.
It also follows a settlement by Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta Platforms, which in January said it would pay about $US25 million to settle a lawsuit by Trump over the company's suspension of his accounts after the January 6, 2021, attack at the US Capitol.
Trump has vowed to pursue more claims against the media.