Paramount’s $16M Trump Settlement Ignites Fury Over Press Freedom, Regulatory Influence

Paramount Global has sparked widespread outrage following its late Tuesday agreement to pay $16 million to settle President Trump’s $20-billion lawsuit over “60 Minutes” edits. Critics are decrying the move as a “spineless capitulation” that severely undermines U.S. press freedoms and sets a dangerous precedent.

The landmark settlement directs the $16 million to cover Trump’s legal fees and help fund his future presidential library, rather than going directly to the former president. Paramount leaders reportedly hope the deal will smooth the path for regulatory approval of the company’s crucial $8-billion sale to David Ellison’s Skydance Media, aiming to ease tensions with the Trump administration.

However, the decision has drawn fierce condemnation from journalists, press freedom advocates, and politicians. Clayton Weimers of Reporters Without Borders USA called it a “shameful decision,” while Bob Corn-Revere of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression warned that “a cold wind just blew through every newsroom,” fearing it opens the door to government influence over media.

Federal Communications Commissioner Anna M. Gomez, the lone Democrat on the panel, sharply criticized the settlement as a “desperate move” to appease the administration and secure regulatory approval, calling it a “dangerous precedent for the 1st Amendment.”

Adding to the fire, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) have raised concerns about potential bribery, with Warren calling for a full investigation. Wyden vowed to push for federal charges “When Democrats retake power.”

Conversely, Trump’s legal team celebrated the outcome, stating, “President Donald J. Trump delivers another win for the American people as he, once again, holds the Fake News media accountable.” Paramount Co-Chief Executive George Cheeks defended the settlement during a shareholder meeting, citing the company’s desire to avoid the high costs, risks, and distractions of prolonged litigation. Nevertheless, detractors, including Seth Stern of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, maintain that the agreement “will be remembered as one of the most shameful capitulations by the press to a president in history,” fearing a chilling effect on independent journalism, especially for smaller newsrooms.

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