Trump Doubles Down on CBS '60 Minutes' Lawsuit, Now Wants $20 Billion

[ificandream]

Source: Variety

By Gene Maddaus
Feb 7, 2025 10:49pm PT

President Trump amended his lawsuit against CBS on Friday, doubling the amount he claims he is owed for “deceptive” editing of a Kamala Harris interview to $20 billion.

Trump sued the network in October, claiming that “60 Minutes” violated the Texas consumer fraud statute when it edited Harris’ answer about the war in Gaza. CBS has sought to throw out the suit, arguing that its editorial decisions are protected by the First Amendment.

The president amended his complaint on Friday night, adding a new claim for “unfair competition” under the federal Lanham Act. The claim alleges Trump was harmed by CBS’ conduct through his role as an owner of the Truth Social platform.

“President Trump was harmed as a competitor in the news media industry and suffered actual
damages in an amount to be determined upon trial of this action,” the complaint states. As a result of CBS’ editing, the suit alleges, “viewership was improperly diverted to Defendants’ media platforms, resulting in lower consumer engagement, advertising revenues and profits” for Truth Social and Trump’s other media ventures.


Read more: https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/trump-doubles-down-cbs-60-minutes-20-billion-lanham-act-1236301341/#recipient_hashed=343cd82b65085ef1666aa5d5e417dc33ae72e7edfab338feb9bf59e12dc0fa95&recipient_salt=35d10431c80f1d5601e6507a49aa52751280eac4349ec99063d09bab33090930&utm_medium=email&utm_source=exacttarget&utm_campaign=newsalert&utm_content=585344_02-08-2025&utm_term=3570063

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Doubling down on stupidity. Dumb and Dumber 2025.

[RockRaven]

1. If you give a mouse a cookie...

These media outlets thought they could buy favor and/or give a legal bribe.

Well, he's insatiable. Which everyone knew.

[BComplex]

26. PLEASE send that message to CBS.

AND to all the media outlets. They need to understand this shit.

I think the whole country needs to sue the media for getting us into this mess.

[peteme67]

29. wow

Correct

[mdbl]

30. Start with the bold-faced liars first

If you can't get them, you won't get any of them.

[forgotmylogin]

37. Is this some kind of strategy?

Does he want them not to settle?

[vapor2]

40. Yes I believe he does

and soon he will control all MEDIA. I pray they don't cave to this madman

[forgotmylogin]

61. This is like term 45

Right at the beginning they managed to get all media to agree not to say the president was lying even when he was. That's when Kellyanne minted "alternative facts".

[Evolve Dammit]

57. First time I smiled today.

[madaboutharry]

2. He is mentally ill.

Maybe it is dementia. Whatever it is, he is a sick man and should be in a facility.

[multigraincracker]

3. He just gave me a great idea.

While he wrangled an immunity from Criminal Court, that doesn't include Civil Courts. Hit him in the wallet. Hundreds of Civil suits will keep him in court, especially State Courts.. Just keep pecking away at him.

[vapor2]

41. I think this idea is our only salvation

[Evolve Dammit]

49. I think he really has crossed into dementia which Fred had. He is bat shit crazy and that bodes ill for us. n/t

[pnwmom]

4. They should counter-sue under the same law. They should say that, as the owner of Truth Social,

he engaged in unfair competition when he made false attacks on his media competitor, CBS.

[Festivito]

20. Doubling again for the doubling down.

And doubling that for doubling down as a government official.

[NJCher]

31. Ok

That works.

[Mr. Evil]

46. I like the way you think!

[AZJonnie]

5. Trump is a dancing monkey folks, playing to the crowd, gaslighting and talking shit EVERY DAY

The frontman, goading the media into hanging on his every insane action and utterance, have pundits on shows to blab about it, etc. This kind of shit is REALLY not what's important right now. I'm sorry if it sounds chiding but he's playing us, and even we fall for it, everyday. Love you guys

[DENVERPOPS]

38. During the debate

he used a legendary debate technique called the "Gish Gallop" where you bombard the other person with rapid fire bullshit to gob smack or stun them, and leave them speechless. (google "Gish Gallop"......Knowing Trump's bombastic bullshit, non-stop style, Biden's debate preppers should have prepared him for the probability of Trump using that technique and how to combat it........

As we have seen, he has mastered it in his everyday tsunami of bullshit, mostly to leave the dems stunned and reeling from the continuous chain of crap he spews out of his mouth.

It falls under the old adage: "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, bury them in bullshit"..................

[Mister Ed]

6. Note to Quislings at CBS and everywhere else:

Appeasement will not work. Appeasement can not buy you safety from those whose hunger for power is insatiable.

[MrWowWow]

7. If CBS Pays DUMP Anything...

We will then know that they are just buying access.

[jeffreyi]

25. And then he will rugpull them anyway.

I agree with the above poster. Dementia is not the correct diagnosis. It's mental all right, but in the direction of psychotic delusional narcissism. Doesn't matter, he is not in charge anyway.

[no_hypocrisy]

8. Why hasn't this lawsuit been dismissed? Where's the "harm" that Trump

supposedly suffered? He's in the WH and the 60 Minutes interview didn't keep him out. And CBS exercised conventional editing. It didn't show all the footage shot. For example, if Kamala Harris sneezed while answering, it wouldn't necessarily have been broadcast.

[Irish_Dem]

10. Showing damages not need to gain total control of the media.

[4catsmom]

9. trying to shut them down

if he succeeds, which network is next? whether it's real or not, the truth does not matter

[Bengus81]

15. He doesn't want CBS shut down,he wants them to toe the line. HIS line....

And drag down an easy $20B in the bargain.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

45. Not just toe the line, but also kiss the ring.

T***p does want just submission, he wants to be devine. The SCOTUS and GOP have fallen in line, turning deference into worship.

[Irish_Dem]

11. Media forbidden to report anything favorable about Dems.

Or face billions of dollars in losses.

[2naSalit]

12. I've got $20 BIllion...

Worth of FUCK OFF for you, donnie fuckface.

[jmowreader]

13. This could backfire

Trump is declaring himself to be in the "news media industry." If he is, didn't he have to grant equal Truth Social access to Vice President Harris?

I want to be the judge in this case: "Lawsuit is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. Plaintiff is unable to prove harm in the instant action as he won the 2024 presidential election. Plaintiff is unable to remedy this deficiency as this Court sees no practical method by which Plaintiff can go back in time to suffer a harm by losing the election."

[ProudMNDemocrat]

14. There was a disclaimer at the beginning that....

the same invitation to tRump by CBS 60 Minutes was given and HE turned it down.

No harm was done. tRump is out of his diseased mind.

[Bengus81]

16. Counter sue his fat ASS for $30B and go to FUCKING court CBS

You pay off that NAZI POS my Paramount+ account gets canceled the same day after paying you for years.

[mackdaddy]

17. Easy way for Trumper to Demand a Bribe .... Legally.

If you want that merger to go through, then you have to pay me 15 million dollars!
--But that would be a bribe and illegal. (otherwise peanuts to us)
OK, then I am suing you for 100 million dollars!
---Oh No! (te he) would you settle for 15 million dollars?
Well, alright. But this is the greatest deal in history.
-Here is you 15million. Oh the merger is going through? what a coincidence.

15 million dollar bribe, completely legal, and a giant ego stroke for tiny hands.

[ReRe]

18. If this suit is not thrown out immediately for it's blatant frivolity,

CBS needs to counter sue. This man who uses the courts to make a living needs to be put in his place once and for all.
Free Speech is the law of the land. Get over it, Stupid. If you don't want to be criticized, don't do shit that needs to be criticized.
Comprende'? You're NOT in Russia. You're in the U.S.A.

[DENVERPOPS]

39. Hostile intimidation

has worked for him, his entire life......precisely the meaning of Bully. His business/professional career is founded on doing that, why should he stop now?

[ReRe]

60. Because

He's the President of the United States, that's why he should stop. His behavior should have consequences.
But this country is broken in two right down the middle and so far, the laws have not held.
Justice needs to show it's face. Now.

[DENVERPOPS]

63. I totally agree

Many of us here on DU, have been shouting our heads off, from the rooftops, since the 1980 election, when HWBush committed TREASON to install his puppet, Ronald Reagan, in the White House.

These RepubliCONs have been planning, organizing, and orchestrating everything for the last 45+ years, to reach this point.

[ReRe]

64. You're damn right.

And I say it's been since 52 years ago, 1973 or thereabouts.
And further back than that, like since FDR. Republicans hated his guts.

[SWBTATTReg]

19. Since no one can sue tRUMP while he's president, why shouldn't the same be true for the reverse, that he can't

sue anyone while he's president? He shouldn't be allowed to.

[valleyrogue]

34. Who says nobody can sue Trump while he is president?

That didn't work for Bill Clinton. What do you think the USSC's Jones v. Clinton was all about?

[Bengus81]

35. Trump can be sued,this is a civil matter before he was Pres and HE brought the suit

[onlyadream]

21. Surely CBS will fight this

And not settle.
This kind of reminds me of the time, when I was 20, I sued a company because they withheld my last paycheck because I gave one week notice instead of two. The reason I only gave one was because circumstances happened and I ended up going back to college and it was starting that week. Anyway, as we waited for the case to be called, the judge urged us to settle. So, since I had other things to take care of since I was now in college, I met with the vice president of the company and told her that I would take half. She laughed and said, “now you realize you’re wrong so now you get nothing.”

I ended up giving my testimony and winning everything she owed me plus interest and fees. It was accompanied by a long letter from the judge about how a company cannot unilaterally make a decision about withholding payment without notifying the employee. It went on to say that since her policy book said they could fire me at any notice, I could quit without notice.

So if you push too far,, eventually, you will get pushback. CBS better fight.

[Botany]

23. Trump knows Kamala was the real winner and it is eating him alive.

And since Disney/ABC capitulated to him when they had a winning case he was then
embolden to push this bullshit about CBS and 60 minutes “editing the Vice President’s”
segment.

But the ownership of CBS wants to sell the network they might just placate Trump.

[mainer]

24. Trying to scare them into a settlement

No one really wants to go to court, even those who know they're in the right. Because you have no idea what kind of nutty jury you'll get, and the risk of losing 20 billion dollars outweighs the pain of paying out a few hundred million.

[LymphocyteLover]

53. he also runs the risk of them getting pissed off and calling his bluff-- if only!

[orleans]

27. 20 BILLION? HE'S INSANE!

this is a link from how this crap was going one week ago

CBS staff alarmed by reports of settlement talks with Trump over ‘60 Minutes’ Harris interview

CNN
—
Journalists, including some at CBS News, are expressing alarm at reports that CBS parent company Paramount Global is trying to settle a legally dubious lawsuit lodged by President Donald Trump last fall.

Trump sued CBS after an October “60 Minutes” interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris – Trump’s opponent in the presidential campaign – included an edit that Trump said was unfairly favorable to Harris. Despite legal experts’ widespread assertion that CBS’ editorial judgment was protected by the First Amendment, The New York Times Thursday night reported that a settlement was in the works.

That sparked outage in CBS’ newsroom.

“Trump’s lawsuit was a joke, but if we settle, we become the laughingstock,” a CBS correspondent said on condition of anonymity.

more

https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/31/media/cbs-trump-settlement-60-minutes/index.html

[Linda ladeewolf]

28. They'd better fight this one.

They could string it out in court like he does.

[twodogsbarking]

32. I think the American people should sue FOX news for much more. A class reaction suit.

[LymphocyteLover]

54. Seriously! How many times did Fox edit their interview him and cut out his utter insanity?

seriously he is fucking nuts! There's no doubt they edited tons of shit he said! I'm sure they also edited out his remarks about Dominion voting machines after they lost their lawsuit.

[DallasNE]

33. So Trump Was Too Busy As A Candidate To Prepare A Defense Against Grand Jury Felony Charges

How does he suddenly find time as president to launch frivolous civil lawsuits?

[jalan48]

36. An authoritarian playbook strategy. Control the media.

[Joinfortmill]

42. Bullying.

[Kid Berwyn]

43. Nothing dip can do.

He's a public figure and the Supreme Court has long held -- oh, hold on a sec. Rats.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

44. Delusional as always

[AdamGG]

47. They need to reneg on the initial 10, if they haven't paid it yet

Take a strong, highly publicized stand and they earn the support of non-MAGAt America. The present administration will end and if it doesn't we're all in a world of trouble anyway. And, when it does end, it's likely going to be thought of as dogshit. Get on the right side of history as one of the media entities that didn't cave into it and it should help you prosper in the long run.

[Wiz Imp]

56. They never agreed to pay anything.

Apparently they were willing to settle, which implies they were willing to pay him less than he was suing for just to get him to go away. Now that he's doubled his demand, there's no way CBS can settle and I can't imagine they will. This will eventually be thrown out of court and never see a courtroom.

[mwooldri]

48. Arkell vs Pressdram.

Please. Paramount's lawyers - please refer DJTs lawyers to this famous case in England. Therein lies their answer.

(It's lawyer-ese for "fyck off&quot .

[Mountainguy]

50. CBS should counter sue for eleventy-billion

[Deuxcents]

55. Why not? He throws the billion dollar numbers around with lawsuits every day

[Alice B.]

51. Since court rulings apparently don't matter anymore, that should work both ways, too. TSF can suck eggs.

[doc03]

52. When Trump had his press comfrance with the Japenese leader CBS was the only

broadcast network that covered it. That didn't make the moron happy.

[Buddyzbuddy]

58. Let's say for arguments sake, everything the Felon has said is true.

What are the damages? He won. If CBS settles, you know it's a bribe towards the merger. Or they have the worst lawyers in history.

[mountain grammy]

59. Madman!

[Turbineguy]

62. CBS should be able to find a different solution for less.