INV-008 · Money & ethics · Payments to the President
Lawsuit settlements paid to a dissolved library fund
Stage 2 of 5: Inquiry · Letters and records requests · Last development 16 Jul 2026
Up to $63 million in settlements of Trump's lawsuits against ABC, Meta, X and Paramount may have gone to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Fund. That fund was later dissolved, and where the money went has not been disclosed.
The FCC approval followed the Paramount settlement by about three weeks; no official finding links the two. The reported ad side deal is denied by Paramount and unconfirmed by Skydance. CBS says the Colbert cancellation was financial; no official finding links it to the settlement or the merger review.
- People
- Donald Trump, ABC, Meta, X, Paramount
- Agencies
- White House, FCC
- Reviewed by
- Senate & House Democrats
Money involved
Timeline
The same lawmakers press the Trump Library Foundation over at least $6.5 million, and possibly $14.5 million, in settlement money they say is unaccounted for. [8]
Sens. Warren and Blumenthal and Rep. Stansbury release the companies' answers on their settlement payments and write to Trump asking where the money went. [7]
Sens. Warren and Blumenthal and Rep. Stansbury ask ABC, Meta, X and Paramount how much went to the fund. Deadline: 23 Mar 2026. [1]
The fund's incorporator files articles of dissolution. [1]
YouTube settles a similar lawsuit for $24.5 million; $22 million goes toward the White House ballroom through the Trust for the National Mall rather than to the library fund (see INV-009). [9]
Florida administratively dissolves the Library Fund for failing to file an annual report. [1]
The FCC approves Skydance's $8B acquisition of Paramount by a 2-1 vote, after Skydance commits to viewpoint diversity, no DEI programs and local news investment. Commissioner Anna Gomez dissents. [5]
CBS announces The Late Show will end in May 2026, calling it "purely a financial decision" unrelated to content or "other matters happening at Paramount". Two senators publicly question the timing; the next day Trump posts that he "absolutely love[s]" that Colbert was "fired" and "I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next." [6]
Stephen Colbert, on CBS, calls Paramount's $16M settlement a "big fat bribe" while the Skydance sale awaits administration approval. [6]
Paramount agrees to pay $16M to settle Trump's lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview; Paramount says the money goes to his future presidential library, not to Trump personally. No apology was included. [3]
The New York Post reports a separate agreement calling for $15M-$20M in public service announcements promoting causes the President supports. On 4 Jul Trump says the deal includes "$16 million plus $16 million, or maybe more" in advertising. [4]
Meta agrees to pay $25M to settle Trump's lawsuit over his account suspension: $22M to his presidential library, $3M for legal fees. [2]
ABC agrees to pay $15M to settle Trump's lawsuit, as a contribution to a presidential foundation and museum. [1]
Responses
- Paramount: Said its settlement included no PSAs: "Paramount knows nothing about the alleged side deal between Trump/Ellison, had absolutely nothing to do with it." Skydance declined to comment. [4]
- Paramount / CBS: Rejected Trump's claim that the interview was edited to favor Harris. [3]
- FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez (dissent): "After months of cowardly capitulation to this Administration, Paramount finally got what it wanted." [5]
- FCC Chair Brendan Carr: Welcomed "Skydance's commitment to make significant changes at the once storied CBS broadcast network." [5]
Who is acting on it
- Dissenting vote FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez: Voted against approving Skydance's purchase of Paramount (24 Jul 2025, What happened next)
- Letter Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM): Asked ABC, Meta, X and Paramount how much went to the library fund (11 Mar 2026, What happened next)
- Letter Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM): Asked Trump where the settlement money went (20 Apr 2026, No reply or result recorded yet)
- Letter Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM): Pressed the Trump Library Foundation over $6.5M to $14.5M in settlement money they say is unaccounted for (16 Jul 2026, No reply or result recorded yet)
Sources
Cite this case
Public Trust Tracker. "Lawsuit settlements paid to a dissolved library fund" (INV-008). Last updated 16 Jul 2026. https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-008-lawsuit-settlements-paid-to-a-dissolved-library-fund/
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