Well, if there’s one thing President Trump knows how to do, it’s make waves when the business and media worlds collide — and this time, it’s Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, and a little cable network called CNN that’s smack in the middle of it.
During a White House roundtable with business leaders, Trump didn’t hold back. He made it clear he’s got serious reservations about Netflix’s proposed $83 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery — not just because of market share, but because CNN is in the mix. And in Trump’s view, CNN can’t just be left as-is. He wants it sold off, or sold separately, before anything else moves forward.
“I don’t think the people that are running that company right now and running CNN, which is a very dishonest group of people, I don’t think that should be allowed to continue,” he said. And in true Trump fashion, he left little room for ambiguity.
But there’s another player on the board — Paramount Skydance — and they’ve got a different kind of interest in CNN. According to reports, the Ellisons — yes, billionaire Larry Ellison and his son David — are eyeing CNN as a high-value asset with strong international reach, despite its political baggage. That $500 million in annual profits? Still looking pretty attractive, even if the brand has taken a few hits in recent years.
The twist? Trump reportedly sees Larry Ellison, a long-time supporter, as the perfect candidate to take the reins at CNN and, in the eyes of many in his orbit, finally strip out the anti-MAGA bent that’s come to define its coverage.
Think CBS 2.0 — the same network that recently brought in journalist Bari Weiss to help shake things up and refocus the newsroom. If the Ellisons succeed in their bid, Weiss might take on editorial oversight of CNN too. That’s not a small shift — that’s a media earthquake waiting to happen.
Trump says he’s not taking sides in the bidding war, but he’s also dropping hints that Netflix might have a rougher road ahead when it comes to regulatory hurdles.
He had nice things to say about Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos — calling him a “fantastic man” — but he also pointed out that the deal means a lot of market share changing hands. “It could be a problem,” he said. “It’ll go through a process.”
And that’s exactly what’s next: a months-long antitrust review, where market share, media control, and yes — politics — are all going to play a role. According to insiders, the Ellisons would get “white-glove treatment” during the approval process, while companies like Comcast or Netflix could face a long regulatory slog.
Bottom line? This deal isn’t just about content libraries and studio assets. It’s about who controls the narrative. And when CNN is the wildcard on the table, you can bet the stakes are a lot bigger than just streaming rights and box office hits.
