CBS and Paramount reach $16 million settlement with Trump
Charlie Hart, co-host of “Fox & Friends,” has commented on the settlement between CBS News and Paramount regarding the editing of Kamala Harris’ interview on “60 Minutes.” The Trump campaign had asserted that this editing influenced the upcoming 2024 election.
Scott Pelley, the veteran journalist, criticized CBS’s previous ownership for succumbing to political pressure in light of their legal showdown with Trump. He shared these thoughts during the National Press Foundation’s annual Journalism Awards Dinner, as reported by Jeremy Barr of the Guardian.
Pelley was discussing Paramount Global, which was the parent company of CBS before merging with Skydance Media, led by David Ellison, the son of tech mogul Larry Ellison, who is known for his ties to Trump.
In the week leading up to the 2024 presidential election, CBS aired an interview with Kamala Harris on “60 Minutes.” Viewers observed that her response to a question about Israel had been altered; the new phrasing aired during a prime-time election special, contrasting with a clip previewed on “Face the Nation.” This prompted criticism from conservatives, who labeled her earlier response a “word salad.”
Trump has accused CBS of engaging in election interference and filed a $20 billion lawsuit against the network. Following protracted negotiations, Paramount and CBS agreed to settle for what is expected to exceed $30 million, which includes a $16 million advance intended for Trump’s presidential library.
Leslie Stahl, another prominent “60 Minutes” correspondent, mentioned that the team could have followed in Bill Owens’ footsteps—the former executive producer—who resigned amid the scandal. According to Stahl, Owens cautioned them against going down that path.
Owens had previously expressed concerns over corporate influences on his editorial decisions, stating that his capacity to run “60 Minutes” independently had diminished. In a memo to his colleagues, he articulated that he could no longer make decisions based on what was right for the show’s audience.
A representative from CBS has not responded to requests for further comments on the matter.
