Paramount Global Claims Trump Wants To 'Punish' It

Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, has requested that a federal judge dismiss a $20-billion lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump concerning edits made to a "60 Minutes" interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. This legal action stems from an interview aired in October 2024, ahead of the presidential election, which Trump claims was deceptively edited to favor Harris and influence the election outcome.

Paramount filed two motions Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. The first motion seeks to dismiss the lawsuit entirely, arguing that it represents "an affront to the First Amendment and is without basis in law or fact." Paramount asserts that Trump's lawsuit is an attempt to punish CBS for its editorial decisions, which are constitutionally protected under free speech rights. The company contends that news organizations have the latitude to edit content for clarity and brevity, as long as the edits do not distort the truth—a standard they claim was met in this case.

The second motion requests that, if the case is not dismissed, it be transferred to federal court in New York, where CBS is headquartered. Paramount argues that the lawsuit, filed in Amarillo, Texas, lacks jurisdiction there, as the interview was neither filmed nor edited in Texas, and Trump, a Florida resident, has no substantial connection to the venue beyond adding Texas Representative Ronny Jackson as a co-plaintiff to anchor the case in the state. This filing choice has raised accusations of "judge-shopping," given that the case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee.

The controversy centers on CBS airing two different versions of Harris’s response to a question about the Biden administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict. A longer, less concise answer appeared on "Face the Nation," while a shorter, more direct version was broadcast on "60 Minutes." Trump alleges this editing violated Texas consumer protection laws and the federal Lanham Act by misleading viewers and unfairly competing with his Truth Social platform. CBS has consistently defended its edits as standard journalistic practice, aimed at delivering a clear and accurate segment within time constraints.

The lawsuit, originally filed for $10 billion in October 2024, was amended in February 2025 to double the damages and include Paramount Global as a defendant, citing the interview’s availability on Paramount+. This escalation followed the FCC’s release of unedited transcripts and footage, which Trump’s team claims bolsters their case, though CBS argues it supports their editorial integrity.

Paramount’s motion comes amid broader stakes, including its pending $8-billion merger with Skydance Media, which requires FCC approval—a process potentially influenced by the Trump administration. While Paramount has engaged in settlement talks and agreed to mediation, its latest filings signal a shift to a more aggressive defense, emphasizing First Amendment protections over conciliatory measures. The outcome of this case could set significant precedents for media rights and political influence over journalism. CBS and Paramount have until March 27, 2025, to file a new dismissal motion if the current one is denied, as per prior court rulings on procedural updates to the complaint.