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.”
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.
