Hollywood actor and prominent activist George Clooney has launched a scathing critique of two major US television networks, ABC and CBS, for their decisions to settle multi-million dollar defamation lawsuits with former President Donald Trump.
Clooney's Blunt Critique of Network Settlements
In comments reported on Tuesday 30 December 2025, Clooney argued that the networks missed a crucial opportunity to stand up to legal pressure. He suggested that instead of settling, they should have told the former president to "go f*** yourself" and taken the lawsuits to court. Clooney believes that successfully challenging these cases would have left the United States in a stronger position.
The financial details of the settlements are significant. ABC paid Trump $15 million to resolve its defamation claim, while parent company Paramount Global agreed to pay $16 million to settle the case against CBS. The latter settlement has attracted particular scrutiny, with House Democrats launching an investigation into whether the payment could be construed as a potential "bribe."
Concerns Over a 'MAGA-Friendly' Direction at CBS
Clooney, who famously portrayed legendary newsman Edward R. Murrow in the film Good Night, and Good Luck, expressed deep concern about the current state of the free press. He specifically highlighted changes at CBS News following the appointment of Bari Weiss as its new editor-in-chief.
He accused Weiss of "dismantling" the network's news division and steering its editorial stance in a direction he described as "MAGA-friendly." This shift, Clooney warned, undermines the core mission of journalism to hold powerful figures accountable and complicates the public's ability to discern reality.
A 'Very Trying Time' for Journalism
Drawing on his past personal acquaintance with Donald Trump, Clooney emphasised the high stakes of the moment. He lamented that some journalists and news organisations have, in his view, abandoned their fundamental duty. The actor described the present climate as a "very trying time" for a profession he sees as a vital pillar of democracy.
His comments frame the legal settlements not merely as business decisions, but as symbolic capitulations that could have far-reaching consequences for press freedom and public discourse in America.
