CBS boss David Ellison hosts dinner honoring Donald Trump amid $111 million CNN merger
Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison hosted an invitation-only dinner in Washington, D.C., to honor President Donald Trump ahead of the White House Correspondents' dinner
View 3 Images Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison hosted a dinner honoring President Donald Trump (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison hosted an exclusive dinner honoring President Donald Trump and White House correspondents.
On Thursday, April 23, Ellison, who oversees CBS News, hosted his invitation-only event at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C. The dinner preceded the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner on April 25, and took place against the backdrop of the massive merger between Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns CNN, and Paramount. The high-profile entertainment merger is anticipated to result in a $111 billion transaction, even as recent figures reveal CBS Evening News is lagging behind rival networks.
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Ellison extended invitations for an "intimate gathering," according to media-industry newsletter Breaker. Trump ended up attending the event, ahead of the official Correspondents' Dinner, according to The Wrap. Many have fumed about David hosting a dinner that "honored" Trump.
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Even as Warner Bros. Discovery investors greenlit the $111 billion merger with Paramount Skydance on the same day, Ellison continues to face significant opposition from the Senate. The CEO was absent from a Senate antitrust subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C., on April 15.
Ellison's absence from the hearing was due to a bereavement in his family, preventing him from attending the proceedings to address the potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery on that occasion.
The Justice Department is currently headed by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. The billionaire is allegedly pursuing authorization from the Trump-led Department of Justice for the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, according to a Variety report
View 3 Images David's dinner happened amid billion-dollar CNN merger (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
With Paramount Skydance anticipated to take over CNN, staffers have reportedly voiced their anxieties regarding a Trump-aligned ownership of the cable news outlet, which could shift their editorial direction toward a more conservative agenda.
"Over the past four years, our teams have transformed Warner Bros. Discovery and returned the company to industry leadership," stated David Zaslav, President and Chief Executive Officer of Warner Bros. Discovery, in an official release.
"Today's stockholder approval is another key milestone toward completing this historic transaction that will deliver exceptional value to our stockholders. We will continue to work with Paramount to complete the remaining steps in this process that will create a leading, next-generation media and entertainment company.
View 3 Images President Donald Trump ended up attending David's dinner (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
"Shareholder approval marks another important milestone towards completing our acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, building on our successful equity and debt syndications and progress across regulatory approvals," Paramount added.
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We look forward to closing the transaction in the coming months and realizing the creation of a next-generation media and entertainment company that better serves both the creative community and consumers," the company further stated.