Trump weighs in on Warner Bros. Discovery showdown, insists CNN must be sold
President Donald Trump directly joined the struggle over Warner Bros. Discovery’s future, telling a White House roundtable that CNN should be sold. He also criticized the network’s coverage, signaling support for Paramount’s bid to take over the media group—though he stopped short of naming Paramount publicly.
During the session, Trump indicated support for Paramount’s aggressive move to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), which would include CNN, while avoiding a direct firm name solicitation. Netflix, in a separate development, agreed to purchase Warner Bros. and HBO but not CNN.
When asked by New York Post reporter Geoff Earle what changes he would like to see at CNN under new leadership, Trump responded that there are several “good companies” bidding, though the question itself suggested an imminent leadership shakeup that hadn’t been announced.
Earlier in the week, The Wall Street Journal reported that David Ellison of Paramount recently told White House officials that, if he gained control of Warner, he would implement sweeping changes at CNN. The Journal cited unnamed sources. The Journal and the Post—both owned by News Corp—have reported this anonymously, adding a layer of media intrigue to the context.
CNN’s own reporters have heard whispers about Trump’s interest. CNN’s Kevin Liptak and Kristen Holmes noted that White House advisers have long speculated about who might buy Warner Bros. Discovery, and that Trump has indicated support for leadership changes at CNN.
Trump confirmed his stance on Wednesday, calling the network’s leadership a “disgrace” and reiterating that CNN should be sold. He claimed CNN disseminates “poison” and “lies” and said he would not want the current leaders to remain in charge.
CNN declined to comment.
Trump has long mixed sharp criticism of CNN with attempts to draw its attention, yet the current situation is distinct: whether CNN will be part of a sale is uncertain.
Under WBD’s plan, the company would split CNN’s corporate parent into two publicly traded units: Warner Bros. would house the film studio and HBO, while Discovery Global would oversee CNN and other cable channels like TNT. The split is slated to take effect next summer, with Netflix planning to purchase the Warner Bros. half after regulatory review.
Paramount, which lost out to Netflix in a bidding war, remains pursuing WBD by urging shareholders to accept its $30-per-share offer for the entire company. The Warner board is expected to address Paramount’s hostile bid next week.
When WBD’s sale status was publicly disclosed in October—shortly after Paramount began overtures—CNN journalists quietly worried about whether an Ellison-led takeover could threaten CNN’s editorial independence, particularly given ongoing coverage of Trump.
Ellison donated nearly $1 million to Joe Biden’s re-election effort last year but has since aligned more closely with Trump’s circle in an effort to gain regulatory and political traction. He has proposed installing an ombudsman at CBS News and scrapping certain DEI policies to win approval for Paramount’s takeover.
Ellison also acquired The Free Press, an “anti-woke” site, and installed Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS News, with a mandate to restore trust in the network’s news division.
Opinions about these moves vary. Some view them as shrewd business tactics, while others see a capitulation to political influence. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has suggested that state control of the press could threaten democracy, a jab some interpret as a critique of Paramount’s alignment with Trump.
Media reform advocates and Democratic lawmakers have voiced concern about the Ellison family's growing influence, highlighting Larry Ellison’s role in broader tech and media deals, including connections to shifts in TikTok’s U.S. operations.
Trump has a long history of pressing for changes at CNN through corporate deals. In 2017, during AT&T’s bid for Time Warner, he and his aides sought to influence CNN’s coverage. Although the deal ultimately faced regulatory challenges, Time Warner maintained editorial independence. Zaslav has likewise stressed CNN’s autonomy, and CNN’s leadership has echoed that commitment to editorial independence even as corporate ownership considerations linger.
Paramount’s chief executive, David Ellison, has publicly articulated a vision for a trusted, large-scale news service that serves the political middle and advocates for a model aimed at both profitability and public trust. In interviews, Ellison has noted meetings with Trump about the idea but cautioned that he does not speak for the president.
Would a change in CNN’s ownership truly safeguard or undermine its editorial independence? The answers hinge on the culture set by new owners, the structure of the split, and how enforcement of newsroom autonomy is monitored in practice. What’s your take on the likely consequences of a major ownership shift for CNN’s reporting and reputation?
