Trump’s Bold Claim: CBS’s New Owner to Offer Him $20M in Airtime Following $16M Settlement!

Donald Trump recently stirred up attention by saying the future owner of CBS will give him $20 million in advertising after the network canceled “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.” This announcement came just days after Trump reached a $16 million settlement with Paramount, CBS’s parent company, over claims of misleading editing in a pre-election interview with Kamala Harris.

Initially, CBS called Trump’s lawsuit “completely without merit,” a sentiment shared by many legal experts. Paramount is currently navigating an $8 billion sale to Skydance Media, which is under scrutiny from federal regulators.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed the $16 million settlement was paid and suggested he expects more from the new ownership. He wrote, “We also anticipate receiving $20 million more from the new Owners, in Advertising, PSAs, or similar Programming, for a total of over $36 million.”

CBS and Skydance have not commented on these claims. Trump’s statement about receiving funding could raise eyebrows, especially as critics, including Colbert, have voiced their dissatisfaction. Just before CBS’s cancellation announcement, Colbert labeled the settlement a “big fat bribe,” expressing frustrations over the company’s actions.

Interestingly, Skydance Media was founded by David Ellison, the son of tech billionaire Larry Ellison, who is known to be friendly with Trump. Critics have cited the $16 million settlement as another instance of media companies trying to placate Trump. Notably, ABC News, owned by Disney, also recently settled a defamation lawsuit, for $15 million, over its coverage of Trump.

Public reaction has been mixed. Many on social media are expressing outrage over perceived corruption and favoritism in media dealings. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren voiced her concerns, stating, “This reeks of corruption.”

As we observe these developments, it’s important to consider how past media relationships with political figures can influence current events and public trust. The ongoing discussion around media ethics and political transparency is more relevant now than ever.

For more details on the Paramount settlement, you can check out this report from The Guardian. For insights into wider media trends, read this article about the implications of recent cancellations in late-night television.

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