Trump Claims CBS Settlement “Maybe $35M” Despite Paramount’s Denial Of PSAs & Ads On Top Of $16M Deal
Someone’s playing fast and loose with the real numbers, and, for once, it may not be Donald Trump — at least when it comes to POTUS’ recent multi-million dollar lawsuit settlement with CBS.
Never one to let anyone else have the last word or reluctant to craft reality to his own connivence, Trump on Wednesday claimed that his arm twisting and threats with the outlet garnered a much bigger reward than the $16 million parent company Paramount Global wants to admit to.
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“We did a deal for about $16 million plus $16 million, or maybe more than that in advertising,” Trump told reporters upon Air Force One of the settlement with Paramount Global. “So, it’s a combination of 16 plus 16 plus,” Trump said, per the White House pool report. Trump was traveling back to Washington after giving a rally-like MAGA speech at Des Moines’ Iowa State Fairgrounds.
“So, it’s like $32, maybe $35 million,” Trump added of the long expected bow from CBS in response to his original $20 billion suit filed late last year over an interview with rival Kamala Harris that ran on 60 Minutes. Then in the heat of the 2024 election, Trump has long insisted the sit-down was intentionally edited to make the then-VP look better and give the Democrat an electoral leg-up.
The still Shari Redstone-run Paramount Global announced the settlement figure as $16 million, the same amount that Disney reached in December to resolve a Trump defamation lawsuit against ABC News and George Stephanopoulos. Just like the CBS matter, that money from Disney went to the future Trump library and attorneys fees.
Paramount Global and its executives, however, have denied that the settlement is anything more than the $16 million, after Fox Business’ Charles Gasparino reported on Wednesday that the sum was closer to Trump’s figure and included an agreement to run public service announcements on topics like antisemitism.
For what it’s worth, there is some debate behind the scenes whether or not it was the desperate Paramount who made the deal for the millions in ads with the Trump team. Was the additional $16 million a “side deal” handshake agreement with would-be owner and Trump UFC seat mate David Ellison to grease the regulatory wheels?
“Contrary to some news reports or media speculation, Paramount’s settlement with President Trump does not include PSAs or anything related to PSAs,” a Paramount Global spokesperson said. “Paramount has no knowledge of any promises or commitments made to President Trump other than those set forth in the settlement proposed by the mediator and accepted by the parties.”
So, as at this point, is Redstone’s Paramount Global essentially calling Donald Trump a liar or simply pleading ignorance?
The company is hoping their publicly disclosed $16 million payout to the former Celebrity Apprentice host will unlock long stymied F.C.C. regulatory approval for its $8 billion merger with Ellison’s Skydance, and a new dispute is not where Paramount Global wants to find itself in this holiday weekend.
In a court filing on Wednesday, Trump and Paramount Global officially informed the judge in the case that they have agreed to a settlement, but said that they are working on a final agreement and the plaintiffs’ notice of dismissal.
There are two other outstanding issues before the Trump administration: The FCC approval of the Paramount-Skydance transaction, and a conservative group’s complaint over the 60 Minutes broadcast.
With 60 Minutes and CBS News having lost the likes of producer Bill Owens and president Wendy McMahon, current co-CEO George Cheeks has tried to frame the settlement as just business as usual. “Look, companies often settle litigation to avoid the high and somewhat unpredictable cost of legal defense, the risk of an adverse judgment that could result in significant financial as well as reputational damage and the disruption to business operations that prolonged legal battles can cause,” Cheeks said at the company’s annual shareholder meeting on July 2, noting that in the settlement Trump didn’t get the apology he had long sought.
As Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) talks of putting forth a bill ASAP to “rein in corruption” related to presidential library donations, she “calling for a full investigation into whether or not any anti-bribery laws were broken.” John Dickerson, co-anchor of the CBS Evening News, addressed the situation at the end of Wednesday’s broadcast/
“The Paramount settlement poses a new obstacle,” he said. “Can you hold power to account after paying it millions? Can an audience trust you when it thinks you’ve traded away that trust? The audience will decide that. Our job is to show up, to honor what we witness on behalf of the people we witness it for.”
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