Paramount hosts private dinner with Trump and his top DOJ official while awaiting federal approval to buy CNN: report

Source: The Independent

Friday 24 April 2026 23:19 EDT


Paramount Skydance executives hosted President Donald Trump and other top administration officials for a private dinner in the nation’s capital on Thursday — as the corporation awaits federal approval on a deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, according to a new report.

Trump spoke to guests for almost an hour, as business titans and federal brass mingled at mixed tables inside the U.S. Institute of Peace, The New York Times reported, citing people informed of the exclusive gathering. Among those in attendance were: Paramount CEO David Ellison, CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

The antitrust division within Blanche’s Justice Department is set to scrutinize the proposed $111 billion purchase of Warner Bros., which would hand CNN and other outlets to Ellison — who already controls CBS News. Warner Bros. shareholders signed off on the deal earlier this week, but it won’t be finalized until the government approves.

Such a summit between federal officials and corporate leaders — on the cusp of a titanic transaction — is considered rare, The NYT noted.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/paramount-trump-private-dinner-cnn-warner-b2964743.html