CBS EVENING NEWS
7/2/25
6:56 PM
JOHN DICKERSON: Finally, tonight: Paramount Global, owner of CBS News, has settled a lawsuit filed by President Trump. The case began when the president alleged that 60 Minutes deceptively edited an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris to aid her candidacy. Which Mr. Trump said amounted to election interference and caused him mental anguish. Under the terms of the settlement worked out with a mediator, Paramount will pay $16 million to cover Mr. Trump's legal costs. Whatever's left will go to his presidential library. No money will be paid directly to the president. The settlement does not require an apology or expression of regret for the editing of the interview, which was done in accordance with long-held CBS News standards and widely accepted journalistic practices. CBS News’ Face the Nation ran a promotional clip of the interview which included a portion of Harris' answer to a question. The 60 Minutes broadcast used a different portion of the answer to the very same question. The president alleges this was done to make Harris look better. CBS News has denied this. Mr. Trump has also claimed that after correspondent Bill Whitaker asked the question, 60 Minutes showed Harris' response to a different question. The full transcript released by 60 Minutes shows that this is not true. Today, a senior Paramount executive told stockholders the deal allows the corporation to avoid what he called the high and somewhat unpredictable costs of legal defense. Paramount is attempting to close an $8 billion merger with Skydance Media. That deal needs Trump administration approval. The corporation said the settlement of the Trump lawsuit is completely separate from and unrelated to the merger. In the end, Paramount decided to settle a suit it said is without basis in law and fact, and an affront to the First Amendment.
