President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed he is anticipating getting an additional $20 million in advertising dollars from CBS News on top of the $16 million he initially announced, as part of a settlement with the media organization over a lawsuit sparked by a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris that Trump claimed was edited to help her 2024 presidential bid.
Following the interview’s original air date on October 7, 2024, Trump sued the network’s parent company, Paramount, which is currently in the process of merging with media giant Skydance.
“Just like ABC and George Slopadopoulos, CBS and its Corporate Owners knew that they defrauded the American People, and were desperate to settle,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Paramount/CBS/60 Minutes have today paid $16 Million Dollars in settlement, and we also anticipate receiving $20 Million Dollars more from the new Owners, in Advertising, PSAs, or similar Programming, for a total of over $36 Million Dollars.”
Trump’s announcement came less than 24 hours after Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Ron Wyden sent a letter to Skydance’s chief executive officer requesting more details on whether he has agreed to “make changes to Skydance’s content or Paramount’s or CBS’s content at the request of the Trump administration.”
Since the lawsuit began, the executive producer of “60 Minutes,” Bill Owens, stepped down, citing the network’s infringement on his journalistic independence. The network’s president and CEO, Wendy McMahon, also resigned.
And just this week, “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” was canceled. CBS cited financial reasons, but the decision came just days after the comedian made a joke critical of the lawsuit.
In addition to CBS, the Trump administration is also suing The Wall Street Journal for $10 billion over its publication of a birthday letter the president is alleged to have sent to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump also settled another lawsuit for $16 million with ABC after anchor George Stephanopoulos made an inaccurate claim on air about Trump’s alleged sexual assault against E. Jean Carroll.
“This is another in a long line of VICTORIES over the Fake News Media, who we are holding to account for their widespread fraud and deceit,” Trump’s post continued. “The Wall Street Journal, The Failing New York Times, The Washington Post, MSDNC, CNN, and all other Mainstream Media Liars, are ON NOTICE that the days of them being allowed to deceive the American People are OVER.”