Money Grab/Charge for access to the president
Paramount settles Trump ‘60 Minutes’ suit for $16 million
On July 2, 2025, Paramount Global agreed to pay $16 million to end Trump’s lawsuit over how CBS edited a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris. There was no apology. The money went to Trump’s future presidential library. At the time, Paramount was seeking federal approval to merge with Skydance.
What happened
In October 2024 Trump sued CBS’s parent, Paramount Global, claiming “60 Minutes” deceptively edited an interview with Kamala Harris. On July 2, 2025, Paramount agreed to pay $16 million, including plaintiff’s fees, to settle. The company said the money would go to Trump’s future presidential library rather than to him, that there was no apology, and that “60 Minutes” would release transcripts of future presidential-candidate interviews. Paramount’s co-CEO said it settled to avoid unpredictable legal costs.
At the time, Paramount needed the FCC to approve its $8 billion merger with Skydance. On July 24, 2025, the FCC approved it 2-1 after Skydance pledged to install a CBS ombudsman for two years and to have no DEI programs. Commissioner Anna Gomez dissented, citing the settlement; Chairman Brendan Carr said the two were unrelated.
Trump’s 2025 disclosure lists the $16 million among $56.5 million paid to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation by Meta, ABC and Paramount. The original library fund was dissolved in September 2025, and lawmakers say up to $14.5 million is unaccounted for.
Who benefited
Trump’s presidential library foundation, which he controls, received $16 million, as listed on his 2025 disclosure. Because the money went to the foundation rather than to Trump personally, this record does not count it in his personal take.
Who wanted something
Paramount and its controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, needed FCC approval of an $8 billion merger with Skydance when they settled, and the approval came 22 days later. Paramount’s co-CEO said settling avoided unpredictable legal costs and business disruption.
Who lost out
Paramount’s shareholders paid $16 million to settle a suit with no apology and no admission. You were on the other side of it: a company awaiting a government decision paid into a fund controlled by the president whose administration was making that decision.
Why it matters
A company that needed a government sign-off paid $16 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the president, with the money going to a foundation he controls, and received the sign-off three weeks later. The company apologized for nothing. The fund that took the money has since been dissolved.
Sources Bloomberg LawCNN (via KEYT)VarietySen. Elizabeth Warren (press release, via Capitol Releases) (primary)U.S. Office of Government Ethics (primary)