Paramount Skydance boss David Ellison is heading to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, just hours after his studio raised its bid to acquire all of Warner Bros. Discovery to $31 per share.
Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina posted on X that Ellison will attend the address as his guest.
“Honored to have David Ellison as my guest to @POTUS’ State of the Union address this evening,” he said.
Ellison Appears at Key Political Moment
The timing stands out. Earlier Tuesday, Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed that its board determined Paramount Skydance’s revised $31 per share offer could reasonably be expected to lead to a “Company Superior Proposal” under its merger agreement with Netflix.
While WBD has not declared the Paramount Skydance proposal superior, the announcement puts pressure on Netflix during a critical four-day window.
Regulatory Scrutiny Looms Over Netflix Deal
Ellison’s presence at Trump’s address comes as regulatory scrutiny becomes a central issue in the WBD sale.
The Netflix merger is expected to face antitrust review in both the United States and Europe, potentially delaying approval for years.
Paramount Skydance’s $31 per share cash offer is being positioned as carrying fewer regulatory complications compared to Netflix’s proposal.
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