President Trump has significantly increased the damages sought in his lawsuit against CBS to $20 billion, alleging unfair editing practices in a “60 Minutes” interview.
Variety reported that on Friday, Trump filed an amended lawsuit against CBS, raising the damages he is pursuing to an unprecedented $20 billion. The updated lawsuit stems from a contentious “60 Minutes” segment featuring Vice President Kamala Harris, which aired questions and answers regarding the war in Gaza.
Trump's legal team now includes claims under federal law, specifically the Lanham Act, arguing CBS engaged in unfair competition detrimental to Trump’s media-related businesses.
The initial legal action was launched in October, targeting CBS for what the complaint described as deceptive editing tactics.
According to Trump, these edits misrepresented the vice president's responses, thereby violating Texas consumer fraud statutes. The amendment on Friday brought additional allegations, significantly escalating the stakes of the legal confrontation.
The Lanham Act, typically involved in trademark disputes, is being utilized here to assert that CBS's actions constituted unfair competition.
The amendment claims that the broadcast resulted in decreased viewer engagement, advertising revenue, and profits for Trump’s media platforms, including the social media network Truth Social. According to the amended complaint, these actions have directly harmed Trump's standing in the media industry, with alleged damages calculated at least $10 billion.
CBS has responded robustly to Trump’s allegations, seeking to dismiss the lawsuit on several grounds. Their primary defense articulates that their editorial practices are protected under the First Amendment, suggesting that the lawsuit is an attempt to hinder journalistic freedom.
CBS also questioned the jurisdictional basis of the lawsuit, proposing that the case be moved from Texas to New York, given that neither party is based in the former.
Amid legal pressures, including a request from the Federal Communications Commission, CBS released the full transcripts and video footage of the Harris interview earlier this week.
Trump’s legal team argues that this full disclosure evidences CBS's manipulation of the interview material, extending beyond the specific exchanges about Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Gaza conflict.
Adding to the complexities of the case, Trump has now included Republican Congressman Ronny Jackson as a co-plaintiff. Jackson, who represents Amarillo, claims to have been similarly misled by the edited interview, thus amplifying the case's scope and implications.
Trump’s ongoing battle with the news media takes a more aggressive turn as he also calls for revoking CBS's broadcasting license. This move underscores his broader criticisms of media practices and his rallying against what he sees as biased reporting, particularly regarding significant mergers such as the ongoing deal between CBS’s parent company, Paramount Global, and Skydance.
The suit details the financial impacts on Trump’s media ventures, particularly alleging that Truth Social suffered due to the purportedly manipulated media coverage.
The exact figures will be determined at trial, illustrating the substantial economic and reputational stakes involved.
As the legal battle unfolds, the outcomes could set significant precedents regarding media responsibility and the intersection of First Amendment rights with commercial competition.
The escalation to a $20 billion claim not only highlights the intensive nature of this legal fight but also sets the stage for a potentially prolonged and contentious judicial process.
As both sides prepare for more intensive legal wrangling, the implications for media law and political discourse are profound, pointing to an era where media actions are scrutinized in the court of law as much as in public opinion.