White House officials reportedly discussed the possibility of removing CNN anchors disliked by President Donald Trump in conversations with billionaire investor Larry Ellison, according to insider accounts tied to the pending Paramount-Skydance acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of CNN.
The report, first published by The Guardian, claims that Ellison—whose son David Ellison is CEO of Paramount-Skydance—discussed firing certain CNN hosts, including Erin Burnett and Brianna Keilar, to help smooth regulatory pathways for the multibillion-dollar deal. While Larry Ellison holds no official role at Paramount-Skydance, he remains a significant shareholder and political donor with longstanding ties to the Trump administration.
Sources say the alleged discussions occurred in the context of the company’s attempt to secure federal approval for acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery. However, legal experts and officials downplayed the possibility of regulatory roadblocks. Former Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater reportedly stated that “government relations” efforts like these are part of how Washington operates, and that such conversations do not necessarily cross legal lines.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr also noted he does not expect the deal would require review from his agency, reinforcing the view that the acquisition is unlikely to face serious antitrust challenges.
While neither the White House nor Ellison has publicly commented on the reports, the allegations could reignite criticism over media influence and government involvement in corporate affairs. For conservatives, the notion of challenging biased media institutions like CNN remains a priority. If true, this effort reflects broader dissatisfaction with media narratives and a willingness to reshape legacy news outlets through market transactions.
Paramount-Skydance is expected to submit its formal, non-binding offer for Warner Bros. Discovery by the November 20 deadline.
