Paramount Global has settled a lawsuit with former President Donald Trump regarding a CBS News interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, which aired on the 60 Minutes program. The information was reported by the news website Fox News.

The lawsuit, filed by Trump's legal team in October 2024 in a federal court in Texas, sought damages of $10 billion. Fox News noted that it is unclear whether Trump has already received any financial compensation, but the original demand of $10 billion suggests that any settlement amount could be substantial, potentially reaching up to $30 million, according to the network's estimates.

Trump's legal team argued that CBS News intentionally edited Kamala Harris's responses to conceal her alleged inability to answer questions clearly and persuasively, constituting "election interference" and "deceptive business practices."

The dispute specifically concerned the broadcast of two different versions of the interview: a shorter version was aired on 60 Minutes, while a longer, different version was broadcast on Face the Nation. Trump's campaign labeled these edits as "digitally manipulated" with the aim of improving Harris's public image before the 2024 presidential election.

According to the lawsuit, the edits were intended to create the impression that Harris was more competent than she actually was, thereby influencing voters. CBS News strongly denied these allegations, stating that the edits to the interview were standard editorial practice and were not intended to mislead anyone.

The network emphasized that the differences between the versions were solely due to the different formats of the programs and were not the result of any fraud or manipulation. Fox News reported that these allegations sparked a widespread debate about media ethics and their role in the electoral process.

The settlement of the dispute was announced on February 22, 2025, and the details of the agreement were not disclosed. According to Fox News, it remains unclear whether any financial compensation or other concessions were made by Paramount Global or CBS News.

The case attracted significant attention because it highlighted the tensions between political figures and the media, particularly in the context of election campaigns. Trump's lawsuit was seen as part of his broader strategy to undermine the credibility of mainstream media, a theme he has repeatedly emphasized throughout his political career.

Fox News/gnews.cz - GH