Former President Donald Trump has stated that the future owner of the US television network CBS will provide him with $20 million in advertising and programming. This announcement came shortly after the network canceled "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert."
Trump recently settled a $16 million dispute with Paramount, the parent company of CBS News. The former president claimed the network had misleadingly edited a pre-election interview with Kamala Harris. While CBS initially contested the lawsuit, Paramount is currently undergoing an $8 billion sale to Skydance Media, a deal that requires federal regulatory approval.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump asserted that the settlement had been paid and that he anticipates receiving an additional $20 million from the new owners for advertising, public service announcements, or similar programming. CBS and Skydance have not yet commented on the claims.
Trump's assertion of receiving millions of dollars in programming is likely to intensify the controversy surrounding the cancellation of "The Late Show." Colbert, a vocal critic of Trump, had previously described Paramount's settlement as a "bribe." Skydance was established in 2010 by David Ellison, son of tech billionaire Larry Ellison, who is known to be an ally of Trump.
The $16 million settlement was already viewed by some as a concession by media companies seeking to appease the former president. Following Trump's recent claim regarding the additional $20 million, Senator Elizabeth Warren expressed concern, stating that the situation "reeks of corruption.
5 Comments
Michelangelo
This smells fishy. Another attempt to control the media narrative.
ZmeeLove
The cancellation of Colbert makes Trump's claims about CBS look very suspicious.
Bermudez
Good for him! The media has been out to get him.
Mariposa
Believe Trump! Media lied about him for years; he deserves fair coverage.
Comandante
Why is everyone so shocked? He's a successful negotiator.