President Trump rejects Paramount’s $15M offer, seeking $25M and an apology over CBS News’ edited Harris interview.

Trump Demands Higher Payout, Apology from CBS

President Donald Trump has declined a $15 million settlement proposal from Paramount Global, escalating his $20 billion lawsuit against the company. The legal dispute centers around CBS News’ broadcast of an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, which Trump claims was deceptively edited to protect Harris ahead of the presidential election.

Trump's legal team is now demanding at least $25 million in damages and a formal apology from CBS News. Sources close to the mediation confirmed the rejection of the offer, originally reported by The Wall Street Journal. Trump has also hinted at the possibility of filing a new lawsuit if the current demands are not met.

The lawsuit, initially filed last October for $10 billion, was later expanded to $20 billion. It accuses CBS News of editing an exchange between Harris and '60 Minutes' correspondent Bill Whitaker in a way that misrepresented her response regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The first half of Harris' less coherent answer aired in a preview, while a more polished response was shown later during the primetime special.

Though the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released raw transcripts showing both answers came from a single response, critics argued CBS News selectively aired footage to shield Harris from criticism. CBS denies any wrongdoing and maintains confidence in its reporting.

Merger Talks Complicate Legal Strategy

Paramount’s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, had recused herself from settlement discussions in February. However, she reportedly sought a resolution to the lawsuit to help facilitate a multibillion-dollar merger between Paramount and Skydance Media, a deal still awaiting regulatory approval from the Trump administration’s FCC.

The lawsuit has cast a shadow over CBS News operations, contributing to significant internal turmoil. '60 Minutes' executive producer Bill Owens abruptly resigned, citing compromised editorial independence amid pressure over the network’s coverage of Trump. Additionally, CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon stepped down last week, reportedly due to disagreements with corporate leadership.

Despite these upheavals, CBS journalists have remained outspoken. Correspondent Scott Pelley made headlines with a commencement address at Wake Forest University, criticizing lawsuits against media outlets and accusing powerful entities of manipulating truth for political gain. Without naming Trump directly, he referenced suppression tactics including legal intimidation and redefining terms like diversity and inclusion as negative.

As legal proceedings continue, the lawsuit remains a major obstacle for Paramount's merger plans and has intensified scrutiny over media practices during election coverage. Trump’s team appears determined to push for accountability and set a precedent for how media edits are handled in politically sensitive contexts.