Trump Meets with Paramount CEO David Ellison Days Before Saying He’s “Not Involved” in Netflix-Warner Battle

President Donald Trump met privately with Paramount CEO David Ellison at the White House last week, according to sources familiar with the discussions, just days before saying publicly that he was “not involved” in the ongoing battle between Paramount and Netflix over Warner Bros. Discovery.

The timing is notable. In an interview with NBC’s Tom Llamas, Trump said he had decided not to involve himself in the dispute, stating the Justice Department would handle the matter. Previously, he had signaled a preference for Paramount in the high-stakes media battle.

Federal regulators are currently reviewing Warner Bros. Discovery’s deal to sell its Warner Bros. studio and HBO to Netflix. Paramount is attempting to block that transaction by going directly to shareholders with its own offer to acquire all of Warner Bros. Discovery, including CNN.

Trump acknowledged in the NBC interview that both sides have reached out to him. He referenced concerns raised about market concentration, noting there is a “theory” that one of the companies may be too large to complete the deal without regulatory scrutiny.

Two days after the interview, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Justice Department is investigating whether Netflix has engaged in anticompetitive tactics. Netflix responded that it is not aware of any investigation beyond the standard merger review process.

David Ellison and his father, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, have longstanding ties to Trump. Larry Ellison is also part of a Trump-backed investor consortium now operating TikTok in the United States.

Paramount has argued that its takeover offer provides a clearer regulatory path than Netflix’s proposed acquisition. However, there has been limited indication that Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders are shifting toward Paramount’s bid.

Credit: CNN Newsource

Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.