Fact Check: Trump's lawsuit against CBS News was for $20 billion over election interference.

Published July 12, 2025
VERDICT
False

# Fact Check: Trump's Lawsuit Against CBS News Was for $20 Billion Over Election Interference ## What We Know The claim that "Trump's lawsuit against...

Fact Check: Trump's Lawsuit Against CBS News Was for $20 Billion Over Election Interference

What We Know

The claim that "Trump's lawsuit against CBS News was for $20 billion over election interference" is partially accurate but requires clarification. Donald Trump initially filed a lawsuit against CBS News and its parent company, Paramount Global, alleging "deceptive editing" of an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris on the program "60 Minutes." The lawsuit was originally for $10 billion but was later increased to $20 billion, as reported by multiple sources (source-2, source-5). Ultimately, the lawsuit was settled for $16 million, which included Trump's legal fees, and the settlement did not involve an apology from CBS (source-1).

Analysis

While the claim states that the lawsuit was for $20 billion, it is important to note that this figure was not the final settlement amount. The lawsuit's escalation to $20 billion reflects Trump's legal strategy rather than the outcome of the case. The settlement of $16 million was reached to avoid a protracted legal battle, which could have cost Paramount significantly more in legal fees and potential damages (source-4).

The sources reporting on this issue vary in reliability. Major news outlets like The New York Times and CNN provide detailed accounts of the lawsuit and settlement, indicating a higher level of credibility due to their established journalistic standards (source-1, source-5). In contrast, some sources that sensationalize the lawsuit's implications, such as certain opinion pieces on Fox News, may carry a bias that could affect their reporting (source-2).

The context of the lawsuit also matters. Trump's claims of "election interference" were based on his assertion that CBS's editing was intended to mislead voters. However, CBS defended its editorial choices, stating that the edits were not deceptive and that the same question was asked in both segments, albeit with different portions of Harris's answer being aired (source-5).

Conclusion

The claim that "Trump's lawsuit against CBS News was for $20 billion over election interference" is False in the context of the final settlement. While Trump did seek $20 billion in damages, the actual settlement was for $16 million, and the lawsuit was primarily about alleged deceptive editing rather than direct election interference. Thus, the claim misrepresents the outcome and context of the legal proceedings.

Sources

  1. Paramount to Pay Trump $16 Million to Settle '60 Minutes' ...
  2. How Trump sued CBS and won: The '60 Minutes ...
  3. CBS parent company sparks massive outrage with Trump ...
  4. Paramount boss defends settling Trump's 'election ...
  5. Paramount settles Trump's '60 Minutes' lawsuit with $16 ...
  6. CBS parent company sparks massive outrage with Trump ...
  7. Why is Trump suing CBS? What to know after Wendy McMahon ...
  8. CBS, Trump reach settlement over 'election interference'

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Fact Check: Transcript
00:00
News, Trump said there was
nothing he could do but it was
Mexico who stepped up to save
lives. While the flood waters
swept away homes, families and
hope in South Texas, the
governor appeared on
television, his voice shaking
saying his hands were tied that
he had no resources, no way to
help but someone did. From
across the river, without
cameras, without promises,
hundreds of Mexican rescuers
crossed over on their own. They
came with backpacks on their
shoulders, trained dogs by
their side, and hearts full of
faith. They didn't wait for
orders, they didn't ask for
permission. They just heard the
cry of a neighbor and they
answered and now, in the mud
and of cities like Laredo,
00:31
Eagle Pass and Mission, the
loudest voices aren't speaking
English. They're speaking
Spanish, Mexican voices saying,
hold on, we're here because
while Trump locks himself in
his office and the governor
throws his hands up to the sky,
Mexico is waste deep in the
water pulling people out alive.
Today, Texas faces its worst
climate disaster in years. The
first to react was not Trump.
But the people arrested in the
United States. So ask yourself
if you believe Trump's
immigration policies are wrong.
Drop a thank you Mexico in the
comments and share the story
before politics buries it.
Partially True
🎯 Similar

Fact Check: Transcript 00:00 News, Trump said there was nothing he could do but it was Mexico who stepped up to save lives. While the flood waters swept away homes, families and hope in South Texas, the governor appeared on television, his voice shaking saying his hands were tied that he had no resources, no way to help but someone did. From across the river, without cameras, without promises, hundreds of Mexican rescuers crossed over on their own. They came with backpacks on their shoulders, trained dogs by their side, and hearts full of faith. They didn't wait for orders, they didn't ask for permission. They just heard the cry of a neighbor and they answered and now, in the mud and of cities like Laredo, 00:31 Eagle Pass and Mission, the loudest voices aren't speaking English. They're speaking Spanish, Mexican voices saying, hold on, we're here because while Trump locks himself in his office and the governor throws his hands up to the sky, Mexico is waste deep in the water pulling people out alive. Today, Texas faces its worst climate disaster in years. The first to react was not Trump. But the people arrested in the United States. So ask yourself if you believe Trump's immigration policies are wrong. Drop a thank you Mexico in the comments and share the story before politics buries it.

Detailed fact-check analysis of: Transcript 00:00 News, Trump said there was nothing he could do but it was Mexico who stepped up to save lives. While the flood waters swept away homes, families and hope in South Texas, the governor appeared on television, his voice shaking saying his hands were tied that he had no resources, no way to help but someone did. From across the river, without cameras, without promises, hundreds of Mexican rescuers crossed over on their own. They came with backpacks on their shoulders, trained dogs by their side, and hearts full of faith. They didn't wait for orders, they didn't ask for permission. They just heard the cry of a neighbor and they answered and now, in the mud and of cities like Laredo, 00:31 Eagle Pass and Mission, the loudest voices aren't speaking English. They're speaking Spanish, Mexican voices saying, hold on, we're here because while Trump locks himself in his office and the governor throws his hands up to the sky, Mexico is waste deep in the water pulling people out alive. Today, Texas faces its worst climate disaster in years. The first to react was not Trump. But the people arrested in the United States. So ask yourself if you believe Trump's immigration policies are wrong. Drop a thank you Mexico in the comments and share the story before politics buries it.

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If you're an American citizen
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is best friends with Israel's
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government now has full control
over your phone. They're giving
us information over to the US
government and probably Israel.
And if you're wondering yes
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Fact Check: During the 2020 presidential election, when Joe Biden became the president in the United States, during counting Donald Trump's auditors were not let into the respective buildings in some states, where counting was carried out

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Fact Check: Transcript
00:00
Are Trump's approval ratings in
the tank? Let's check it out. I
mean every politician would
like this number here
especially to see it go up. How
about compared to other
presidents who are Republicans?
Yeah. It's history making. It's
history making. What are we
talking about here? So why
don't we look back? We have all
the president's Republican
presidents going back over the
last thirty-five, thirty-six,
37 years. What are we talking
about? GOP who strongly
approved 5 months in. Look at
this. George, HW Bush, Bush
forty1, 46%. Bush forty-three,
fifty you see Trump the first
00:31
term 53, but look at this 63%
he beats all the other
Republicans on the board here
and I was looking even back
since Reagan and get this
Donald Trump beats Ronald
Reagan when it comes to the
strongly approved five months
and of course Reagan was coming
off that high after that
assassination attempt so the
bottom line is Donald Trump is
making history with the
Republican base he is more
beloved by this Republican base
than any Republican base loved
any GOP president 5 months in.
It is history making. Even CNN
01:03
is telling the truth. Feels
like hell might be freezing
over.
Partially True

Fact Check: Transcript 00:00 Are Trump's approval ratings in the tank? Let's check it out. I mean every politician would like this number here especially to see it go up. How about compared to other presidents who are Republicans? Yeah. It's history making. It's history making. What are we talking about here? So why don't we look back? We have all the president's Republican presidents going back over the last thirty-five, thirty-six, 37 years. What are we talking about? GOP who strongly approved 5 months in. Look at this. George, HW Bush, Bush forty1, 46%. Bush forty-three, fifty you see Trump the first 00:31 term 53, but look at this 63% he beats all the other Republicans on the board here and I was looking even back since Reagan and get this Donald Trump beats Ronald Reagan when it comes to the strongly approved five months and of course Reagan was coming off that high after that assassination attempt so the bottom line is Donald Trump is making history with the Republican base he is more beloved by this Republican base than any Republican base loved any GOP president 5 months in. It is history making. Even CNN 01:03 is telling the truth. Feels like hell might be freezing over.

Detailed fact-check analysis of: Transcript 00:00 Are Trump's approval ratings in the tank? Let's check it out. I mean every politician would like this number here especially to see it go up. How about compared to other presidents who are Republicans? Yeah. It's history making. It's history making. What are we talking about here? So why don't we look back? We have all the president's Republican presidents going back over the last thirty-five, thirty-six, 37 years. What are we talking about? GOP who strongly approved 5 months in. Look at this. George, HW Bush, Bush forty1, 46%. Bush forty-three, fifty you see Trump the first 00:31 term 53, but look at this 63% he beats all the other Republicans on the board here and I was looking even back since Reagan and get this Donald Trump beats Ronald Reagan when it comes to the strongly approved five months and of course Reagan was coming off that high after that assassination attempt so the bottom line is Donald Trump is making history with the Republican base he is more beloved by this Republican base than any Republican base loved any GOP president 5 months in. It is history making. Even CNN 01:03 is telling the truth. Feels like hell might be freezing over.

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00:00
Vance you flip flop faster than
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big game about Christian values
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You treat faith like a
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America first agenda. In the of
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00:32
cutting aid for the poor. In
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not defending values that's
wrapping cruelty in scripture.
You say it's about protecting
the country but I remember
Jesus talked about welcoming
Partially True

Fact Check: Transcript 00:00 Vance you flip flop faster than pages in the Bible. You talk a big game about Christian values but you support closing the border, deporting refugees, separating immigrant families, even building detention camps. You treat faith like a political tool. One day you use it to oppose same sex marriage. The next you use it to justify expansionism. On Sunday you're on your knees in church. On Monday you're backing Trump's America first agenda. In the of traditional family, you support 00:32 cutting aid for the poor. In the name of border security, you support violent enforcement against asylum seekers. That's not defending values that's wrapping cruelty in scripture. You say it's about protecting the country but I remember Jesus talked about welcoming

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True

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Fact Check: Trump's lawsuit against CBS News was for $20 billion over election interference. | TruthOrFake Blog