logo
Trump claims he struck side deal with Skydance for additional $16 million in ‘60 Minutes' settlement

Trump claims he struck side deal with Skydance for additional $16 million in ‘60 Minutes' settlement

Independent2 days ago
Donald Trump all but confirmed a report that he struck a 'side deal' with the soon-to-be owners of Paramount over the 60 Minutes lawsuit, claiming that Skydance Media's supposed promise to run public service ads in support of the president would place the settlement amount at roughly $35 million.
In a long-expected but still heavily denounced capitulation to the president, Paramount – which is finalizing an $8 billion mega-merger with Skydance that needs the Trump administration's approval – agreed to pay Trump's future presidential library $16 million (minus legal fees) to settle his lawsuit against CBS News that the network's own lawyers called 'meritless.'
While Paramount specified that the settlement didn't include any apology for the interview with Kamala Harris at the center of the 'frivolous' complaint, nor was any money paid directly to the president, Fox Business correspondent Charles Gasparino soon reported that Skydance owner David Ellison – son of Trump-backing billionaire Larry Ellison – added a secret sweetener to the agreement.
According to Gasparino, the younger Ellison – who now expects to take over Paramount and CBS within the next few weeks – agreed to 'run between $15 million and $20 million of public service ads to promote causes supported by the president' once the merger is complete.
'Paramount knows nothing about the alleged side deal between Trump\Ellison, had absolutely nothing to do with it, nor was it a part of what the board approved, and the mediator sanctioned,' a spokesperson for Paramount said about the reportedly clandestine pact.
Of course, Paramount denying knowledge of the secret deal appears to be the entire point of the exercise – which allows the president an even bigger haul from a 'baseless' case that most legal experts said would likely get thrown out of court in the end.
Additionally, as Gasparino observed, Ellison's promise to Trump could help Paramount avoid allegations of bribery as the deal was made without their knowledge. Democratic lawmakers and free press advocates have already promised congressional hearings, criminal probes and civil lawsuits on behalf of shareholders.
Paramount executives had expressed concerns for months that any large settlement could place the company's board in legal peril for violating anti-bribery statutes, especially as chairwoman Shari Redstone – who was a driving force behind the settlement – looks to clear $2 billion with the merger.
Speaking to reporters on early Friday morning following a speech at an Iowa rally, Trump was asked about the recent settlement with Paramount and CBS – and he effectively confirmed Gasparino's reporting.
'We did a deal for about $16 million plus $16 million, or maybe more than that, in advertising... It's like $32 to maybe $35 million,' the president boasted.
Trump also heaped praise on both Eillsons, gushing over his 'friend' Larry. 'I think he's going to run CBS really well, and I think he's making a good deal to buy it. I think he's great,' the president declared to the press pool before adding about David: 'He's got a son who's a fantastic young man too.'
At the same time, he insisted – much like Paramount and his hand-picked FCC chairman Brendan Carr, who will have final say on approving the merger – that the lawsuit settlement was completely unrelated to Skydance's pending acquisition of Paramount.
Meanwhile, a week before the settlement was announced, it was reported that David Ellison was bragging to his Hollywood friends that the lawsuit would be settled soon and struck an upbeat tone about the negotiations.
Despite the president's claim over the weekend, there are still some conflicting accounts about the handshake deal with the younger Ellison and whether it will be honored.
'The president's claim that the settlement is worth anything more than the announced $16 million figure is false, according to a source familiar with the situation,' Variety reported. 'Neither Paramount nor Skydance Media has agreed to grant free advertising airtime to Trump, the source said.'
Representatives for Skydance Media did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Still, whether CBS will be running millions of dollars of pro-Trump ads or not after Skydance takes over, the fear within the newsroom – which has been roiled in turmoil for months over the Trump litigation and Paramount's surrender to the president – over the new corporate ownership is palpable.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

The Secret Service suspended six staffers without pay or benefits after Trump assassination attempt
The Secret Service suspended six staffers without pay or benefits after Trump assassination attempt

The Independent

time34 minutes ago

  • The Independent

The Secret Service suspended six staffers without pay or benefits after Trump assassination attempt

The Secret Service suspended six staffers without pay or benefits after President Donald Trump 's first assassination attempt nearly a year ago. On July 13, 2024, Trump, who was the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination at the time, was at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a 20-year-old gunman fired at him. A bullet grazed Trump's ear, prompting Secret Service agents to shield him with their own bodies. As Trump was being swept away to safety, he raised his fist in the air and mouthed, 'Fight, fight, fight.' The gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, killed one person and injured two others before a Secret Service sniper fatally shot him. Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn has now told CBS News six agency staffers were put on unpaid leave for 10 to 42 days after the attempt on Trump's life. The agents were denied benefits during their suspension, and when they came back to work, they were placed into restricted duty or roles with less operational responsibility, according to the CBS report. Quinn admitted the attempted assassination was an 'operational failure' for which the Secret Service is 'totally accountable'. But the deputy director defended the decision not to fire the six agents outright. "We aren't going to fire our way out of this,' he said. 'We're going to focus on the root cause and fix the deficiencies that put us in that situation." Then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle stepped down from her leadership role shortly after the Butler incident and subsequent calls for her resignation. A bipartisan House task force found 'various failures in planning, execution, and leadership' that, mixed with 'preexisting conditions,' created 'an environment in which [Trump] — and everyone at the campaign event — were exposed to grave danger,' according to a 180-page report. The report identified 'preexisting issues in leadership and training' at the Secret Service. That included agency staffers 'with little to no experience in advance planning roles [who] were given significant responsibility, despite the July 13 event being held at a higher-risk outdoor venue with many line of sight issues, in addition to specific intelligence about a long-range threat.' Another assassination attempt on Trump at his Florida golf course on September 15, 2024, was foiled by a Secret Service agent who fired at suspect Ryan Routh before a single shot was fired at Trump. Routh faces federal charges for the assassination attempt.

Gaza permanent ceasefire 'questionable' - but possible 'within weeks, not a day', says senior Israeli official
Gaza permanent ceasefire 'questionable' - but possible 'within weeks, not a day', says senior Israeli official

Sky News

time37 minutes ago

  • Sky News

Gaza permanent ceasefire 'questionable' - but possible 'within weeks, not a day', says senior Israeli official

A senior Israeli official has issued a less-than-optimistic assessment of the permanency of any ceasefire in Gaza. Speaking in Washington on condition of anonymity, the senior official said that a 60-day ceasefire"might" be possible within "a week, two weeks - not a day". But on the chances of the ceasefire lasting beyond 60 days, the official said: "We will begin negotiations on a permanent settlement. "But we achieve it? It's questionable, but Hamas will not be there." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to conclude a four-day visit to Washington later today. There had been hope that a ceasefire could be announced during the trip. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that it's close. 0:44 Speaking at a briefing for a number of reporters, the Israeli official would not be drawn on any of the details of the negotiations over concerns that public disclosure could jeopardise their chances of success. The major sticking point in the talks between Hamas and Israel is the status of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) inside Gaza during the 60-day ceasefire and beyond, should it last longer. The latest Israeli proposal, passed to Hamas last week, included a map showing the proposed IDF presence inside Gaza during the ceasefire. This was rejected by Hamas and by Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, who reportedly told the Israelis that the redeployment map "looks like a Smotrich plan", a reference to the extreme-right Israeli finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich. The official repeated Israel's central stated war aims of getting the hostages back and eliminating Hamas. But in a hint of how hard it will be to reconcile the differences, the official was clear that no permanent ceasefire would be possible without the complete removal of Hamas. "We will offer them a permanent ceasefire," he told Sky News. "If they agree. Fine. It's over. "They lay down their arms, and we proceed [with the ceasefire]. If they don't, we'll proceed [with the war]." On the status of the Israeli military inside Gaza, the official said: "We would want IDF in every square meter of Gaza, and then hand it over to someone..." He added: "[We] don't want to govern Gaza... don't want to govern, but the first thing is, you have to defeat Hamas..." The official said the Israeli government had "no territorial designs for Gaza". "But [we] don't want Hamas there," he continued. "You have to finish the job... victory over Hamas. You cannot have victory if you don't clear out all the fighting forces. "You have to go into every square inch unless you are not serious about victory. I am. We are going to defeat them. Those who do not disarm will die. Those who disarm will have a life." On the future of Gaza, the official ruled out the possibility of a two-state solution "for the foreseeable future". "They are not going to have a state in the foreseeable future as long as they cling to that idea of destroying our state. It doesn't make a difference if they are the Palestinian Authority or Hamas, it's just a difference of tactics." On the most controversial aspect of the Gaza conflict - the movement of the population - the official predicted that 60% of Palestinians would "choose to leave". But he claimed that Israel would allow them to return once Hamas had been eliminated, adding: "It's not forcible eviction, it's not permanent eviction." Critics of Israel's war in Gaza say that any removal of Palestinians from Gaza, even if given the appearance of being "voluntary," is in fact anything but, because the strip has been so comprehensively flattened. Reacting to Israeli Defence Minister Katz's recent statement revealing a plan to move Palestinians into a "humanitarian city" in southern Gaza, and not let them out of that area, the official wouldn't be drawn, except to say: "As a permanent arrangement? Of course not."

People in the US: are you delaying major life decisions under Trump's presidency?
People in the US: are you delaying major life decisions under Trump's presidency?

The Guardian

time38 minutes ago

  • The Guardian

People in the US: are you delaying major life decisions under Trump's presidency?

As Donald Trump approaches six months in office as president, his administration's agenda has shaken every corner of US life. According to research from Harris Poll, Americans are reconsidering major life events including marriage, having children and buying a home amid economic anxiety under the Trump administration. Six in 10 Americans said the economy had affected at least one of their major life goals, citing either lack of affordability or anxiety around the current economy. We want to hear from you. Have you been delaying major life decisions amid economic and political anxieties? When did things begin to feel destabilized? What effect in particular has delaying life decisions had on your household? You can tell us if you are delaying any major life decisions and your reasons why by filling in the form below. Please be as specific as possible. Please include as much detail as possible. Please be as specific as possible. Please note, the maximum file size is 5.7 MB. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. If you include other people's names please ask them first. If you're having trouble using the form click here. Read terms of service here and privacy policy here.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store