US President Donald Trump has inserted himself into the high-stakes battle over the future of Warner Bros Discovery, an entertainment giant owned by CNN, HBO, and other media businesses. The $108 billion takeover bid is led by David Ellison, son of tech billionaire Larry Ellison, who has a history of supporting Trump's presidential campaigns.
Unbeknownst to the public, however, a significant foreign investor has been quietly backing Ellison's bid – Jared Kushner, the President's son-in-law and a key advisor in his administration. Kushner's private equity firm, Affinity Partners, is also funding part of Paramount's offer, along with three Arab monarchies: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
These foreign funds collectively contribute $24 billion to the deal, nearly three-fifths of the total equity, making them a majority stakeholder in the new company. This has raised concerns among lawmakers who are urging regulators to scrutinize the potential national security risks posed by such a merger.
Critics argue that Trump's involvement in the bidding process is a clear conflict of interest, particularly given Kushner's history of negotiating lucrative business deals with foreign leaders, including Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Critics warn that allowing Paramount's bid to succeed could lead to increased foreign control over US media assets and undermine democratic values.
Kushner has been at the center of several high-stakes international negotiations since leaving his White House role in 2018, often navigating complex webs of personal and financial ties with foreign leaders. The fact that Kushner is now involved in another potentially sensitive deal – a $55 billion acquisition of US-based video game publisher Electronic Arts – raises questions about whether he will be able to maintain the necessary distance from Trump's influence.
The stakes are high for US democracy, as a successful Paramount takeover could result in a CNN network more sympathetic to Trump and his MAGA movement ahead of crucial midterm elections next year. The implications of this deal go far beyond the media landscape, however, speaking to broader concerns about the role of money in politics and the erosion of institutional checks on presidential power.
Lawmakers such as Senator Elizabeth Warren are sounding the alarm about Kushner's involvement in Paramount's bid and the potential for foreign influence, urging regulators to judge the deal based on the law and facts rather than Trump's personal connections.
Unbeknownst to the public, however, a significant foreign investor has been quietly backing Ellison's bid – Jared Kushner, the President's son-in-law and a key advisor in his administration. Kushner's private equity firm, Affinity Partners, is also funding part of Paramount's offer, along with three Arab monarchies: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
These foreign funds collectively contribute $24 billion to the deal, nearly three-fifths of the total equity, making them a majority stakeholder in the new company. This has raised concerns among lawmakers who are urging regulators to scrutinize the potential national security risks posed by such a merger.
Critics argue that Trump's involvement in the bidding process is a clear conflict of interest, particularly given Kushner's history of negotiating lucrative business deals with foreign leaders, including Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Critics warn that allowing Paramount's bid to succeed could lead to increased foreign control over US media assets and undermine democratic values.
Kushner has been at the center of several high-stakes international negotiations since leaving his White House role in 2018, often navigating complex webs of personal and financial ties with foreign leaders. The fact that Kushner is now involved in another potentially sensitive deal – a $55 billion acquisition of US-based video game publisher Electronic Arts – raises questions about whether he will be able to maintain the necessary distance from Trump's influence.
The stakes are high for US democracy, as a successful Paramount takeover could result in a CNN network more sympathetic to Trump and his MAGA movement ahead of crucial midterm elections next year. The implications of this deal go far beyond the media landscape, however, speaking to broader concerns about the role of money in politics and the erosion of institutional checks on presidential power.
Lawmakers such as Senator Elizabeth Warren are sounding the alarm about Kushner's involvement in Paramount's bid and the potential for foreign influence, urging regulators to judge the deal based on the law and facts rather than Trump's personal connections.
. Like, what even is going on here? The US President is basically meddling in a massive media takeover, and it's got everyone's attention 
. And then you find out that Kushner is the one behind it all... that's just wrong 
. I mean, we've seen what happens when he gets involved with foreign leaders - not good 
. It's like, can't we just have a clear break from politics in our media deals? I'm worried about how this is gonna affect the CNN network and, you know, free speech 
. And what about the midterms next year? Could this be a total disaster for democracy? 
It's like they're trying to quietly manipulate the US media landscape from behind the scenes.
. The fact that a foreign investor is backing Ellison's bid, Kushner being involved too... it raises so many questions about national security and democratic values.
. I'm all for competition in the market, but not when it involves foreign interests and potential conflicts of interest. We need some serious regulation here 
.
this is some serious juju going down. a foreign investor backing trump's favorite son-in-law's bid is not exactly what we need more of in our democracy... 
I get that national security is a concern, but isn't this just another example of the "revolving door" between politics and business? It seems like Kushner's got some sweet deals lined up, and it's hard to shake the feeling that he's using his influence for personal gain. Can we trust our media outlets anymore if they're being backed by foreign cash? 
, it's not just about the media landscape, it's about the democratic values and stuff 
, nope, its Kushner all the way 
, we need to keep an eye on this deal and make sure it doesn't go through without some major scrutiny 
Like how does his private equity firm Affinity Partners even fit into all this? 
. Like, what's to stop them from pushing their own agendas on us through CNN and HBO? And with Trump involved in the bidding process, it's just more suspicious 
.