As Warner Bros. Discovery continues its search for a buyer, a new report suggests that the White House under President Donald Trump may be showing interest in a potential acquisition by Paramount Skydance. According to The Guardian, that interest may be tied in part to private discussions involving the company’s largest shareholder, billionaire tech mogul Larry Ellison.

Multiple insiders told the outlet that Ellison, 81, has maintained ongoing contact with officials in the Trump administration. During at least one of those conversations, Ellison reportedly discussed possible changes to CNN—a major news network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery—including the idea of replacing certain on-air personalities whom Trump has publicly criticized in the past.

Sources told The Guardian that Ellison allegedly raised the possibility of removing several CNN anchors, including Erin Burnett and Brianna Keilar, both of whom Trump has often targeted. Those discussions reportedly left the White House “energized” about the possibility of Paramount Skydance taking over Warner Bros. Discovery.

Paramount Skydance, which houses the Paramount film studio and the CBS network, is currently exploring the idea of acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery. Such a deal would bring CNN under the same corporate umbrella as CBS—opening the door to potential cross-network programming. One reported idea even involved airing programs like 60 Minutes on CNN.

Although Ellison has been mentioned in behind-the-scenes conversations, he does not hold a formal executive position within Paramount Skydance. The company is led by his son, David Ellison. Still, Larry Ellison’s financial influence and long-standing ties to Republican officials have drawn significant attention as merger talks continue.

The Trump administration’s positive view of Paramount may also be shaped by recent legal history. Earlier this year, Paramount settled a lawsuit with Trump for $16 million after the former president claimed that 60 Minutes deceptively edited an interview with Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 election. The settlement was controversial and triggered backlash within the industry.

In the days that followed the settlement, CBS unexpectedly canceled The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The announcement came shortly after Colbert criticized the settlement on air, prompting discussions about possible political pressure influencing network decisions. Trump has previously called for networks to fire late-night hosts who mock him, including Seth Meyers at NBC.

CNN declined to comment on the report, and the White House did not immediately respond to questions.

Warner Bros. Discovery is considering multiple bids, not just from Paramount. According to The Guardian, Netflix and Comcast are also exploring the possibility of making an offer, with initial bids reportedly due on Nov. 20.

The rapidly evolving situation highlights the growing intersection of politics, media ownership, and corporate consolidation—raising questions about how potential mergers could reshape the American media landscape in 2026 and beyond.