WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump said he expects to receive $20 million in advertising and programming from Paramount, the parent company of CBS, as part of a side deal connected to the company’s $16 million settlement with him.
Trump, in a post on his social media app Truth Social, said he received the $16 million payment on July 22, three weeks after Paramount agreed to settle a Trump lawsuit that claimed the CBS news program “60 Minutes” deceptively edited an interview with Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
“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 said. “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.”
He added that other news organizations are “ON NOTICE that the days of them being allowed to deceive the American People are OVER. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Paramount, asked about Trump’s claim of an additional $20 million in promised advertising and programs, pointed USA TODAY to a July 2 statement in which the company disputed the assertion.
More: Paramount agrees to pay $16M to settle Trump lawsuit over ’60 Minutes’ interview
“Contrary to some news reports or media speculation, Paramount’s settlement with President Trump does not include PSAs or anything related to PSAs,” the company 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.”
In his lawsuit, Trump alleged CBS’s editing of the Harris interview violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act, which makes it illegal to use false, misleading, or deceptive ads in commerce.
Media advocacy groups have warned Trump’s novel use of such laws against news outlets could circumvent legal protections for the press, which can only be held liable for defamation against public figures if they report something they knew or should have known was false.
Paramount’s settlement with Trump has drawn criticism from Democrats and other Trump critics, who have noted that it comes as Paramount is seeking the U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s approval for an $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media.
More: Trump says he ‘absolutely loves’ that CBS canceled Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’
Democrats have also questioned the timing of CBS’ recent cancellation of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” who has been an outspoken critic of Trump.
Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Ron Wyden., D-Ore., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., sent Skydance Media CEO David Ellison a July 21 letter that posed several questions including whether the company has any arrangements with Trump to provide ” compensation, advertising, or promotional activities” that assist the president, his family, his future presidential library or other administration officials.
“We write with questions about Skydance Media’s reported secret side deal with President Trumpthat appears to be connected to Paramount Global’s efforts to settle President Trump’s lawsuitagainst CBS and secure approval for its mega-merger with Skydance,” the senators said.
Paramount has denied the claim, saying the lawsuit is “completely separate from, and unrelated to, the Skydance transaction and the FCC approval process.”
Contributing: Reuters
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump claims $20 million side pot in ’60 Minutes’ Paramount settlement
