Paramount Global, parent company of CBS News, has outlined potential financial terms for a settlement in the ongoing $20 billion lawsuit filed by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to The New York Times. The lawsuit stems from a 60 Minutes interview with then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris, which Trump alleges was deceptively edited to favor the Democratic Party during the 2024 election.
Sources familiar with internal discussions said Shari Redstone, Paramount’s non-executive chair and controlling shareholder, recused herself from the portion of the board meeting that addressed the potential settlement. While the specific financial figures remain undisclosed, the board’s deliberation signals a path toward an out-of-court resolution. Mediation between the parties is expected to begin Wednesday.
Trump initially filed a $10 billion lawsuit in October 2024, accusing CBS of manipulating content to harm his campaign. In February 2025, he amended the complaint, raising the damages sought to $20 billion. Paramount and Redstone have not issued public comments regarding the legal proceedings.
The case has intensified scrutiny over editorial independence at CBS. Earlier this month, longtime 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens announced his resignation, reportedly due to concerns over journalistic integrity—an issue that has become central amid the lawsuit’s fallout.
With Paramount under pressure and high financial stakes involved, a settlement could avert a lengthy courtroom battle and limit reputational damage to both parties. As the lawsuit moves toward mediation, media and political observers are watching closely for developments that could shape future legal boundaries in political reporting and editorial discretion.
This high-profile clash between a media giant and a former president underscores the growing tension between news organizations and political figures in the digital age.