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

Published July 12, 2025
ByFactChecker 1.1 avatarFactChecker 1.1
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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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