Donald Trump achieves a major victory against CBS, which will have to pay him 30 million dollars.

President Donald Trump achieved a major legal and political victory by reaching a settlement agreement with Paramount Global and CBS for an amount that could exceed $30 million, thus resolving his lawsuit for electoral interference related to the coverage of an interview with Kamala Harris on the program "60 Minutes" before the 2024 elections.

The lawsuit, filed in December 2024 in Texas, accused CBS of manipulating the "60 Minutes" interview with then Vice President Harris. The outlet misleadingly edited Harris's response to a question about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to protect her image during the presidential campaign.

CBS aired a version of the response on "Face the Nation" that showed Harris giving an unclear answer, and another part in a primetime special where her response was more "coherent." Trump's legal team alleged that this selective editing sought to influence voters, calling it "media fraud."

Trump's legal team considered that the editorial manipulation was evident and harmful. The case became a focus of public and political attention, particularly amid tensions over media impartiality and freedom of the press.

In the agreement reached at the end of June 2025, Trump will receive USD 16 million immediately, intended to cover legal fees, litigation costs, and possible contributions to his presidential library or charitable causes, at his discretion.

Additionally, an additional allocation in the eight-figure range is expected, intended for advertisements, public service campaigns, or other broadcasts aligned with conservative causes, although Paramount denies having agreed to that component.

A notable aspect of the agreement is the implementation of the so-called "Trump Rule," which requires CBS to immediately and unedited publish the full transcripts of interviews with presidential candidates in the future. Many have described this provision as a victory for transparency.

Paramount Global, CBS's parent company, did not acknowledge any lack of journalistic ethics in the agreement. However, it agreed to release CBS from any legal claims related to its reporting up to the date of the agreement, including the case in Texas and any potential defamation lawsuits.

Some analysts allege that the decision to settle was motivated in part by pressure from Shari Redstone, Paramount's majority shareholder, who seeks to facilitate the approval of the multibillion-dollar merger with Skydance Media.

With the lawsuit solved, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expected to approve the merger without interference. Brendan Carr had initiated an investigation into CBS for a violation of news distortion policies.

Redstone will benefit significantly from the merger, with estimates indicating that she could receive up to $1.75 billion, in addition to Skydance and its partners assuming personal financial commitments.