Larry Ellison's Alleged Trump Deal: CNN Staffers on the Chopping Block?
Two press freedom watchdogs are turning up the heat on Oracle's billionaire founder, Larry Ellison, claiming he’s been playing footsie with the Trump administration to grease the wheels for his Warner Bros. Discovery takeover.
The Freedom of the Press Foundation and Reporters Without Borders, both shareholders in Paramount Skydance, fired off a letter to the company’s legal chief demanding access to internal communications. They’re not just looking for a peek; they want to expose what they allege are shady backroom deals.
According to these organizations, Ellison, currently sitting pretty as the world’s second-richest man, allegedly assured Trump that he’d replicate CBS News’ controversial shake-up at CNN if the merger gets the green light. This includes booting out anchors and commentators that Trump has relentlessly slammed as “fake news.”
The shareholder letter raises alarms about a “corrupt exchange” between Ellison and Trump, warning that any such commitments could breach fiduciary duties and open the door to serious legal repercussions.
These accusations draw a direct line to CBS News, where significant changes followed the Trump administration’s approval of Ellison’s Paramount acquisition last summer. David Ellison, Larry’s son, brought in Bari Weiss, founder of The Free Press, to take the reins at CBS News, leading to a major overhaul of staffing and editorial direction.
Ellison reportedly sees those CBS changes as a blueprint for CNN, according to the explosive letter. Just two weeks ago, Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders overwhelmingly backed the merger, which would pay stockholders $31 per share—nearly quadrupling its value from last year and marking one of Hollywood's biggest consolidations in nearly a decade.
Neither Paramount Skydance nor Ellison’s camp has responded to requests for comment, leaving many to wonder what’s really brewing behind closed doors. The demands from these press advocates underscore growing fears about media consolidation under owners who might prioritize political agendas over journalistic integrity. CNN, with its massive global reach, has been a frequent target of Trump’s ire, making this situation all the more explosive.
As this story unfolds, it raises critical questions about the future of press freedom and the integrity of news reporting in an era where corporate interests and political power seem increasingly intertwined.
