President Trump announced that he expects Skydance Media, currently merging with Paramount Global (CBS’s parent company), to commit $20 million in advertising and public service announcements.
The Wall Street Journal reports this is in addition to the $16 million settlement CBS agreed to earlier this month to resolve Trump’s lawsuit against 60 Minutes for alleged election interference.
In a Tuesday social media post, Trump stated, “We anticipate an additional $20 million from the new owners in advertising, PSAs, or similar programming, totaling over $36 million. This marks another victory over the fake news media, held accountable for their fraud and deceit.”
CBS, however, clarified that the 60 Minutes settlement includes no additional compensation like PSAs. A Skydance spokesperson declined to comment.
The issue arose when CBS aired different versions of Harris’s response to an Israel-related question on Face the Nation and 60 Minutes, with the latter described as more concise.
Negotiations over the lawsuit coincided with Paramount’s efforts to secure Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval for Skydance’s acquisition. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) recently questioned Skydance CEO David Ellison about any potential side deals with Trump involving compensation or promotional activities, asking, “Is there any arrangement to provide compensation, advertising, or promotional activities to assist President Trump, his family, his presidential library, or Administration officials?”
Skydance awaits FCC approval for the Paramount merger, expected by summer’s end.