Oracle co-founder and Paramount investor Larry Ellison privately urged the incoming Trump administration to back the dismissal of prominent CNN anchors, including Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper, as a condition of supporting Paramount Global’s takeover of Warner Bros Discovery, according to multiple sources who spoke to The Guardian.
The explosive claim reveals that Ellison held direct discussions with senior Trump transition officials in the weeks following the 2024 election, arguing that removing hosts perceived as anti-Trump was necessary to “clean up” CNN and align the combined media giant with the new administration ahead of Trump’s January 20 inauguration.
The all-stock deal would merge Paramount (CBS, MTV, Paramount+) with Warner Bros Discovery (CNN, HBO, Max) into one of the largest U.S. media companies, giving the Ellison and Trump-aligned ownership group significant influence over national news outlets.
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| Jake Tapper, Anderson Cooper |
- Ellison, who controls roughly 10% of Paramount, personally named CNN on-air talent he wanted gone.
- Sources described the talks as “informal but explicit,” with Ellison framing the changes as essential for regulatory approval and national unity.
- White House transition officials did not reject the proposals, according to insiders.
The discussions have raised immediate alarm about potential First Amendment violations and antitrust complications.
Paramount and Oracle declined to comment. CNN defended its editorial independence, and the Trump transition team has not responded to requests for comment.
The revelations come as the proposed merger already faces intense scrutiny over media consolidation.