CNN Reportedly Acquired by MAGA-Aligned Figure
A prominent figure aligned with the MAGA movement has reportedly acquired CNN and is taking unspecified aggressive action against CBS. The development, reported in a YouTube video, suggests a significant ownership shift at two major U.S. news organizations, raising questions about potential changes in editorial direction and escalating the debate over press freedom.
CNN is currently owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, which is the subject of a takeover battle between Paramount and Netflix. President Donald Trump has publicly stated his desire for CNN to be sold and has expressed support for a bid from Paramount, led by CEO David Ellison. Ellison, along with his billionaire father and Oracle founder Larry Ellison, are considered allies of Trump. Reports indicate David Ellison has given assurances to Trump that he would make sweeping changes at CNN if his bid for its parent company is successful. The Paramount offer includes the acquisition of CNN, while a competing bid from Netflix would spin off the news network into a separate entity. Separately, CBS is owned by Paramount, which recently merged with Skydance Media in a deal approved by the Trump administration in the summer of 2025. To facilitate the deal's approval, Paramount made several concessions, including a $16 million settlement to Donald Trump over a lawsuit related to a "60 Minutes" segment. Following the merger, Paramount appointed Bari Weiss, founder of The Free Press and a writer known for her criticism of liberal institutions, as the new editor-in-chief of CBS News. The acquisition of her media startup was reported to be valued at $150 million. This move, along with the cancellation of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," has been seen by some as a shift in the network's editorial direction.
