Skydance-Paramount deal could land Trump even more than $16M: Report

Questions are swirling over what President Trump received from the Paramount settlement

We reported last week that CBS's parent company, Paramount, agreed to pay Trump $16 million

to settle a lawsuit over the network's editing of a 60 Minutes Kamala Harris interview

But some reports suggest a possible side deal was also involved. After the Paramount settlement was announced, President Trump told reporters

there was a side deal on the table worth significantly more than the $16 million settlement

According to a White House poll report, a Washington Post reporter asked Trump Thursday

about the settlement. He responded, we did a deal for about $16 million plus $16 million

or maybe more than that in advertising. The New York Post reported last week Skydance

the company seeking to merge with Paramount in a deal still awaiting FCC approval

allegedly told Trump it would run between 15 to million worth of public service ads promoting causes close to him Skydance CEO David Ellison is the son of Oracle co Larry Ellison a friend of the president While Trump included the

PSA deal in the total settlement figure, Paramount denies any connection to the PSA arrangement with

Skydance. A Paramount spokesperson stated, Paramount has no knowledge of any promises

or commitments made to President Trump other than those set forth in the settlement

Skydance has not responded to media requests about the alleged PSA side deal

But according to Paramount, even if a separate agreement exists between Skydance and Trump

Paramount says it's not involved. Some Democrats are calling for investigations into the $16 million settlement

calling it a bribe to encourage regulatory approval of Skydance's $8 billion merger with Paramount

Paramount has denied any bribery claims justifying the settlement