Paramount Global’s decision to pay President Donald Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit over CBS’s “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris, aired in October 2024, represents a significant victory for Trump in his ongoing battle against what he calls the “fake news” media establishment. The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of Texas, alleged that CBS deceptively edited Harris’s responses, particularly on the Israel-Hamas conflict, to portray her as more coherent and competent, thus interfering in the 2024 election. The settlement, which directs funds to Trump’s future presidential library and includes a commitment from “60 Minutes” to release future presidential candidate interview transcripts, underscores Trump’s ability to leverage legal pressure to extract concessions from major media conglomerates. Critics, including the Freedom of the Press Foundation, decry the settlement as a capitulation that undermines journalistic integrity, especially given Paramount’s need for Trump administration approval for its Skydance Media merger. Yet, Trump’s legal team framed it as a triumph, proving the media’s bias and deceit, even though the $16 million is a fraction of the initial $20 billion claim.

This victory is part of a broader pattern of Trump successfully challenging media outlets he accuses of biased reporting. In December 2024, ABC News settled a defamation lawsuit with Trump for $15 million, also directed to his presidential library, over anchor George Stephanopoulos’s inaccurate claim that Trump was found liable for “rape” in the E. Jean Carroll case. The settlement included an editor’s note expressing regret, a concession Trump used to highlight media accountability. Similarly, Trump has targeted NPR and PBS, accusing them of pushing liberal narratives with taxpayer funding. While no settlements with these outlets have been finalized, Trump’s rhetoric and legal actions signal an intent to reform or defund public broadcasters he views as part of the “fake news” ecosystem. His lawsuits, including one against The Des Moines Register over a misleading poll, demonstrate a strategy of using litigation to challenge perceived media distortions, often yielding financial or reputational wins that bolster his narrative of fighting a corrupt establishment.

Looking ahead, Trump’s focus on Voice of America (VOA) suggests another front in his media crusade. While no lawsuit against VOA has been reported as of July 2, 2025, Trump’s allies, including FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, have criticized VOA for alleged bias in its international reporting, aligning with Trump’s broader aim to reshape federally funded media. The Paramount settlement, coupled with the ABC payout, has emboldened Trump’s supporters, who see these as proof of media malfeasance. Posts on X reflect this sentiment, with users like @OzraeliAvi celebrating the “humiliating” Paramount payout as evidence of Trump’s unrelenting fight against media manipulation. However, press freedom advocates warn that these settlements, driven by corporate interests like Paramount’s merger needs, threaten journalistic independence. Regardless, Trump’s legal victories reinforce his narrative of dismantling a biased media establishment, with potential future actions against VOA indicating his campaign is far from over.