Rosie O’Donnell Criticizes CBS Settlement with Trump

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Liberal comedian Rosie O’Donnell criticized CBS for allegedly yielding to former President Donald Trump during a podcast with “The View” co-host Ana Navarro. O’Donnell referred to the network’s $16 million settlement of a lawsuit involving “60 Minutes” as a “bribe,” suggesting it compromised media independence.

O’Donnell echoed sentiments expressed by former CBS host Stephen Colbert. “[CBS] capitulated. They did exactly what Stephen Colbert said they did,” O’Donnell asserted, referencing Colbert’s earlier criticism.

The lawsuit stemmed from an October 2024 “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump claimed CBS edited Harris’ remarks about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to favor her prior to the presidential election. In July 2025, Paramount Global and CBS resolved the lawsuit for $16 million, covering legal fees and contributing to Trump’s future presidential library or charitable causes. There was no apology or admission of wrongdoing, nor was money paid directly to Trump.

Trump’s legal team portrayed the settlement as a victory over the media, with a spokesperson stating CBS and Paramount had no choice but to settle. “CBS and Paramount Global realized the strength of this historic case,” the spokesperson said.

During the podcast, O’Donnell expressed that she relocated to Ireland after Trump’s 2024 election triumph. She referred to Trump as a “convicted sexual rapist,” prompting Navarro to caution her. Trump faced no criminal conviction for rape, though a civil jury held him liable for sexual abuse and defamation against writer E. Jean Carroll. ABC News also agreed to a financial settlement regarding statements made by George Stephanopoulos about Trump’s liabilities.

Stephen Colbert critiqued the CBS settlement on “The Late Show,” arguing the agreement resembled a bribe, while ongoing approval processes for Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media unfolded. Three days after Colbert’s remarks, CBS announced the cancellation of “The Late Show” after the 2025-2026 season, citing financial reasons unrelated to Colbert’s content. Colbert concluded hosting the show in May.

The Federal Communications Commission later approved Skydance’s $8 billion acquisition of Paramount. Paramount stated the lawsuit was unconnected to the acquisition and FCC proceedings.

CJ Womack, associate editor at Fox News, reports on the intersection of journalism, politics, and culture. Womack graduated from Long Beach State University in 2025 with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Journalism.