Rosie O’Donnell Criticizes CBS Settlement with Trump

Comedian Rosie O’Donnell criticized CBS for its $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump. She made these remarks on Ana Navarro’s podcast, accusing CBS of undermining press independence by agreeing to the settlement.

Appearing on Navarro’s podcast, O’Donnell referenced former CBS host Stephen Colbert, who similarly criticized the network’s decision on his show the previous year. “[CBS] capitulated,” O’Donnell claimed. “They gave him a bribe. It’s unforgivable.”

The CBS case involved allegations by Trump of misleading edits in a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. CBS reached a $16 million settlement, which included legal fees and a contribution to Trump’s presidential library or charitable causes. The agreement did not include an apology or admission of wrongdoing. CBS agreed to the settlement without paying Trump directly.

O’Donnell argued that the settlement showed a lack of independent media willing to challenge government entities, asserting, “We need a vibrant, independent media. We no longer have it.”

Trump’s legal team saw the settlement as a victory. A spokesperson suggested that CBS and Paramount Global recognized the strength of their case and opted to settle.

During the podcast, O’Donnell referred to Trump as a “convicted sexual rapist.” Navarro cautioned her on this statement, as Trump had not been criminally convicted of rape. A civil jury did find him liable for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll. Furthermore, ABC News agreed to a separate $15 million payment to Trump’s foundation after anchor George Stephanopoulos repeatedly referred to him as liable for rape.

O’Donnell’s comments echoed Colbert’s, who criticized the settlement on “The Late Show.” Colbert suggested that the financial timing, during Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media, appeared like a bribe.

CBS later announced the cancellation of “The Late Show,” stating it was due to financial reasons unrelated to Colbert’s content. The Federal Communications Commission approved Skydance’s $8 billion acquisition of Paramount weeks after the settlement, with Paramount asserting the lawsuit and merger were unrelated.