According to a new report, Skydance Paramount and David Ellison are still the frontrunners to buy Warner Bros. Discovery and it’s due to President Donald Trump.
Senior media correspondent Charles Gasparino on X claims that Paramount Skydance holds the inside track on the Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) deal because it is reportedly the only bidder willing to take on CNN alongside the rest of the company.
Gasparino says the role of former president Donald Trump is critical: he allegedly wants CNN “neutralized,” and sources say Skydance would hand the network to conservative journalist Bari Weiss if it wins the bid.
So in short, Trump wants CNN “neutralized,” and since Paramount is the only one interested in buying the entirety of WBD, Trump backs Paramount and wants Paramount to win the bid to purchase WBD.
Conflict With Other Reports: Comcast and Saudis Rising
This narrative directly conflicts with a recent article suggesting that Comcast Corporation, potentially backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, may lead the race for WBD.
That report emphasized Comcast’s interest in WBD’s streaming and studio assets and strategic alignment with Saudi entertainment ambitions, rather than the network angle Gasparino describes.
The divergence illustrates how different media outlets are spinning the sale in favor of different buyers.
What’s at Stake and What It Means
If Gasparino’s version is accurate, the winning bidder wouldn’t just acquire a studio and streaming empire—they’d inherit CNN and the broader levers of narrative control.
That elevates the deal from standard media consolidation into a politically charged power play.
Meanwhile, the earlier Comcast‑Saudis angle suggests competition is still wide open, with multiple strategic visions vying for control of WBD.
In either scenario, WBD CEO David Zaslav holds the upper hand: he has rejected early offers and is using leverage to push the price—and the terms—up.
