Rosie O’Donnell Criticizes CBS Settlement with Trump

Liberal comedian Rosie O’Donnell criticized CBS for allegedly yielding to President Donald Trump. In an appearance on “The View” co-host Ana Navarro’s podcast, “Bleep! with Ana Navarro,” O’Donnell argued that CBS’s $16 million settlement with Trump related to his “60 Minutes” lawsuit was akin to a bribe, weakening the independence of the press.

Referencing former CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert, O’Donnell remarked, “[CBS] capitulated. They did exactly what Stephen Colbert said they did. They gave him a bribe and it’s unforgivable.” O’Donnell expressed concern over the current state of media independence in the country, stressing that a vibrant press is essential for government accountability.

“We need a very vibrant, alive, independent media,” O’Donnell stated. “And we no longer have it in this country.”

The CBS lawsuit involved claims that the network improperly edited a “60 Minutes” segment featuring then-Vice President Kamala Harris, which Trump argued was altered to benefit Harris before the election. CBS and its parent company, Paramount Global, settled the case without admitting any wrongdoing, agreeing to a $16 million settlement to cover legal costs and fund Trump’s future presidential library or charity projects.

Trump’s legal representatives claimed the settlement was a testament to the strength of their case. A spokesperson stated, “CBS and Paramount Global realized the strength of this historic case and had no choice but to settle.”

Additionally, O’Donnell referred to Trump as a “convicted sexual rapist,” a claim Navarro advised her against making. Trump has not faced a criminal rape conviction but was found liable in a civil case involving sexual abuse and defamation against writer E. Jean Carroll. Separately, ABC News also settled with Trump for $15 million over related defamation claims made by anchor George Stephanopoulos.

Criticism of the CBS settlement continued with Stephen Colbert on “The Late Show,” where he suggested the deal resembled a bribe, particularly as Paramount awaited federal approval for its merger with Skydance Media. Shortly after, CBS announced the cancellation of “The Late Show” but clarified the decision was unrelated to Colbert’s remarks or Paramount’s dealings.

The Federal Communications Commission later approved Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount, a transaction Paramount maintained was separate from the Trump lawsuit.