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Trump's CNN feud sharpens as Paramount deal looms

Source: washingtonpost.com

TL;DR

Trump's long feud with CNN gains urgency as Paramount Skydance nears acquisition of parent Warner Bros. Discovery.
David Ellison, backed by Trump ally Larry Ellison, leads the $110 billion deal facing regulatory reviews and a shareholder vote on April 23.
CNN journalists fear job cuts, editorial shifts like those at CBS News, and White House influence over coverage.

The story at a glance

The Washington Post article examines how President Trump's attacks on CNN intensify amid the pending $110 billion sale of Warner Bros. Discovery to David Ellison's Paramount Skydance. Key players include Trump, the Ellison family—David and his father Larry—a Trump donor, CNN staff, and regulators like the DOJ and California AG. This is reported now because the deal looms with a shareholder vote set for April 23, amid ongoing antitrust scrutiny.[[1]](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/04/05/trump-cnn-attacks-paramount-skydance-deal)[[2]](https://www.timesofisrael.com/could-paramount-acquisition-of-cnn-shift-coverage-of-israel)

Key points

Trump called CNN's leadership a "disgrace" in December and said it is "imperative" the network be sold as part of any Warner Bros. deal.[[1]](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/04/05/trump-cnn-attacks-paramount-skydance-deal)
Paramount Skydance's bid won after Netflix dropped out in February; the deal would merge studios, streamers like Paramount+ and HBO Max, and news outlets CBS and CNN.[[3]](https://www.npr.org/2026/02/27/nx-s1-5728865/warner-bros-paramount-ellison-family)
David Ellison has ties to Trump; he attended the State of the Union as Lindsey Graham's guest and reportedly promised "sweeping changes" at CNN.[[4]](https://www.alternet.org/trump-cnn-ellison)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, "The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better."[[5]](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2026-03-13/hegseth-says-hes-eager-for-paramounts-ellison-to-take-over-cnn-trump-bari-weiss-cbs)
CNN staff express "panic" and "dread" over potential layoffs, like CBS's 15% staff cuts, and editorial moves such as Bari Weiss's role at CBS News.[[6]](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tv/articles/cnn-allegedly-panicking-over-trump-162053602.html)
Ellison vows CNN's editorial independence, saying the network will stay in the "truth business," but skepticism remains given CBS changes.[[7]](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/david-ellison-cnn-independent-paramount-buys-warner-bros-discovery-1236680397)

Details and context

The bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery began late 2025, with Netflix initially offering but withdrawing, clearing the path for Paramount Skydance's higher cash bid. Trump publicly favored a sale of CNN, which he accuses of bias, and his administration fast-tracked prior Paramount approvals after a $16 million settlement of his "60 Minutes" lawsuit.[[8]](https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/10/media/trump-cnn-sold-paramount-warner-bros-netflix)[[9]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/business/media/cnn-paramount-david-ellison.html)

CNN CEO Mark Thompson has urged staff not to jump to conclusions, but anxiety builds from CBS precedents: layoffs, leadership shakeups, and Weiss's appointment as editor-in-chief, seen by critics as a rightward shift.[[10]](https://nypost.com/2026/03/26/media/cnn-boss-mark-thompson-addresses-his-future-in-tense-exchange-with-staffers-over-paramount-deal-report)

Regulators worry about media consolidation reducing competition; California AG has an open probe, and DOJ approval is needed before a targeted September close.[[2]](https://www.timesofisrael.com/could-paramount-acquisition-of-cnn-shift-coverage-of-israel)

Key quotes

President Trump: “I think the people that have run CNN for the last long period of time are a disgrace... I think it’s imperative that CNN be sold.”[[1]](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/04/05/trump-cnn-attacks-paramount-skydance-deal)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: “The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better.”[[5]](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2026-03-13/hegseth-says-hes-eager-for-paramounts-ellison-to-take-over-cnn-trump-bari-weiss-cbs)

Why it matters

The deal could concentrate control of major studios, streamers, and news under one entity with Trump ties, raising questions about media diversity and independence. For CNN viewers and staff, it may mean layoffs, coverage shifts, or pressure to soften criticism of the White House; investors face antitrust risks delaying value. Watch the April 23 shareholder vote and DOJ/California reviews, as blocks could derail the merger or force concessions.[[2]](https://www.timesofisrael.com/could-paramount-acquisition-of-cnn-shift-coverage-of-israel)