Paramount recently settled a lawsuit with President Donald Trump over a 2024 “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris. Trump claimed that the interview was edited in a way to portray him negatively and he sued for defamation. Paramount Global, the parent company to CBS in which the interview aired, said in a statement that they agreed to pay $16 million to be allocated to Trump’s presidential library. The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of Texas, originally sought $20 billion in damages.
Paramount said that Trump will not receive any direct or indirect payment. The settlement, the company claims, did not come with an apology. Paramount has also agreed that “60 Minutes” will release transcripts of interviews with presidential candidates going forward.
Many are arguing that this is a clear violation of free speech and that this settlement may be a frightening precedent for future journalism practices. It is a duty for journalists to challenge the people who hold power and to keep them accountable for their actions. With this settlement, however, lawsuits might become a tool for silencing critics. Even if portrayal is unflattering, it is important that the media be able to criticize public figures – especially the president. If outlets are threatened with expensive lawsuits for fulfilling their job, a new dangerous reality of silence may be approaching.
This settlement also comes at the same time Paramount is seeking a merger with media production group Skydance Media. The $8 billion merger requires federal approval that has not yet been fulfilled.
Many politicians are seeing the suspicious timing of this settlement as a form of bribery. Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote on X that, “this looks like bribery in plain sight” and that she will call for an investigation.
Paramount has rejected these claims saying that the lawsuit is unrelated to the merger and the FCC approval process. They added that they will “abide by the legal process to defend our case.”
The intersection of politics and corporate interests, especially when also involved in media, threaten and undermine democratic values – and it seems to be happening in plain sight. It is important for there to be transparency in journalism, and the unique timing of this payout feels a blatant disregard to those values. Paramount is undermining free speech and giving in to the threats of Trump for its own personal gain. Unless accountability is demanded, the truth will be lost to greedy corporations wanting their way.
