Legendary CBS News anchor Dan Rather sharply criticized Paramount Global’s $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump, labeling the agreement as “a sell-out to extortion by the president” during remarks made Wednesday, July 2, 2025, to Variety.
The 93-year-old former anchor, who served CBS News for 44 years, expressed significant disappointment over the media conglomerate’s decision to settle Trump’s lawsuit related to a “60 Minutes” interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. Rather described the settlement as a capitulation to presidential pressure and a concession by wealthy corporate proprietors.
Trump initially sued Paramount for $20 billion, alleging that the network had deceptively edited Harris’ interview by modifying a garbled sentence regarding Israel’s conflict in Gaza. The lawsuit accused “60 Minutes” of election interference through alleged “news distortion.” However, the consensus among legal scholars and experts was that the case was frivolous and unlikely to endure First Amendment scrutiny.
As per the settlement terms, Paramount will contribute $16 million to Trump’s presidential library and cover associated legal fees. Additionally, the agreement mandates CBS to release complete, unedited transcripts of future presidential candidate interviews and potentially finance advertisements endorsing conservative causes. Notably, the settlement does not require Paramount to issue any apology.
Rather stressed that Paramount was not compelled to settle the case, asserting that settlements are typically concluded when wrongdoing has occurred. He argued that “60 Minutes” adhered to recognized journalistic standards and that legal experts almost unanimously believed the case would not survive in court. The former anchor noted that CBS News staff opposed the settlement internally.
The settlement coincides with David Ellison’s Skydance Media negotiating an $8 billion acquisition of Paramount, which requires approval from the Trump-controlled Federal Communications Commission. Rather suggested that this financial consideration influenced the company’s decision to settle, indicating that substantial business interests take precedence over press freedom.
The veteran broadcaster warned that Trump’s approach of pressuring media organizations through legal threats might have significant implications for journalism and democracy. He noted that Trump understood corporate executives would yield under pressure when significant financial stakes were involved, forcing a news organization to pay millions for constitutionally protected reporting activities.
The seasoned journalist voiced concern about the broader implications, highlighting that Trump has employed similar tactics with law firms and universities. He raised questions about the potential outcomes of such pressure campaigns, suggesting they pose a risk to the nation’s democratic institutions and the capability of news organizations to hold influential individuals accountable.
Despite his critique of the corporate decision, Rather expressed strong support for his former colleagues at CBS News and “60 Minutes.” He commended their efforts to resist the settlement and predicted that they would continue to produce quality journalism despite the challenges. The former anchor described his support as unwavering.
The settlement mirrors a similar $16 million payment Disney made to Trump’s library the previous year to resolve his defamation suit over an ABC News interview. This trend has faced criticism from politicians, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, who suggested the payments could constitute bribery.
Rather’s departure from CBS in 2006 followed controversy over a story about President George W. Bush’s National Guard service that relied on unauthenticated documents. He unsuccessfully sued CBS and its then-parent company, Viacom, in 2007, with the courts ultimately dismissing his claims. Rather currently authors a Substack publication.
The settlement has also caused internal disruption at CBS News, with top producer Bill Owens departing due to concerns about a perceived decline in journalistic independence. Executive Wendy McMahon subsequently left the network as well, underscoring the internal tensions surrounding the agreement.
Rather concluded his remarks by reflecting on the unprecedented challenges facing journalism during his six-decade career. He encouraged current CBS News and “60 Minutes” staff to persist in their work while acknowledging the difficult circumstances created by the settlement and its implications for press freedom.
