President Trump just gave CBS News a hard pass on their $15 million settlement offer, signaling he’s not backing down in his massive lawsuit against the network.
Breitbart reported that Trump’s legal battle with CBS News, owned by Paramount Global, centers on claims of election interference, with a lawsuit now valued at $20 billion after an initial filing of $10 billion.
This all started when Trump sued CBS late last year, accusing their flagship program, 60 Minutes, of editing an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris to polish her response on a sensitive topic regarding Israel.
The claim? CBS swapped a muddled answer for a sharper one to make her look more competent.
Initially pegged at $10 billion, Trump upped the ante to $20 billion, showing he’s not playing games with what he sees as a betrayal of public trust. CBS, after all, uses public airwaves for free and is supposed to serve viewers, not spin narratives.
About a month into arbitration talks, Paramount Global tossed out a $15 million settlement offer, which Trump swiftly rejected.
He’s holding out for at least $25 million and a public apology—turns out, actions have consequences, and he’s not settling for pocket change.
Adding fuel to the fire, a judge refused to toss the case despite some in the media dismissing it as a long shot. That’s a win for Trump’s camp, proving this isn’t just a publicity stunt but a fight with legal legs.
Meanwhile, CBS News and 60 Minutes are grappling with internal upheaval, as both the executive editor of 60 Minutes and the president of CBS News have stepped down. It’s hard not to wonder if this lawsuit is shaking things up behind closed doors.
The $15 million offer, far from calming the waters, is likely to stir more unrest at CBS News, with staff already on edge amid declining credibility and ratings. When your own house is crumbling, a public legal spat doesn’t exactly help.
Then there’s the looming threat of another lawsuit from Trump, this time for defamation, over a recent 60 Minutes piece that likened him to a “mob boss.” If that materializes, CBS might regret not taking this first fight more seriously.
Paramount Global’s bigger picture isn’t rosy either, as they’re pushing for an $8 billion merger with Skydance Media that needs FCC approval.
Skydance, however, is hitting the brakes, refusing to move forward until Trump’s lawsuit is resolved.
Skydance isn’t just twiddling its thumbs—they’re threatening major overhauls at CBS News to address its sliding reputation and viewership. For a network already on shaky ground, that’s a wake-up call they can’t ignore.
Trump’s refusal to settle for $15 million isn’t just a financial stand; it’s a message that he won’t let what he sees as media bias slide.
In a world where trust in journalism is already thin, this case could force some hard conversations.
CBS’s role as a steward of public airwaves means they’re held to a higher standard, or at least they should be. If Trump’s allegations of deceptive editing hold water, it’s a blow to the idea that networks prioritize truth over agenda.