Pete Hegseth didn’t hold back while ripping CNN, saying the network would be better off once David Ellison takes over.
During a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth blasted CNN’s reporting on the Trump administration’s handling of the Iran conflict and the impact on the Strait of Hormuz. He called the coverage “fake news” and then tied it directly to the pending Paramount Skydance takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN’s parent company.
“The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth Rips CNN Over Iran Coverage
Hegseth’s comments came after CNN reported that the Trump administration had underestimated the fallout from military action involving Iran, including the threat to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Hegseth pushed back hard, arguing that CNN was presenting the situation in a misleading way and ignoring what the administration had already considered.
“CNN doesn’t think we thought of that,” Hegseth said, calling the report “fundamentally unserious.”
CNN has defended its reporting, but Hegseth used the moment to take a broader shot at the network and its future ownership.
David Ellison Could End Up In Control Of CNN
Ellison’s Paramount Skydance is pursuing a massive deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. If the merger is approved, CNN would become part of Ellison’s expanded media empire alongside Paramount, CBS, Warner Bros., HBO, and other major assets.
That is why Hegseth’s line stood out. It wasn’t just another attack on CNN. It also fed directly into the growing debate over what CNN could look like under Ellison’s control.
Ellison has said CNN would remain editorially independent, but the network’s future has already become a major point of speculation as the deal moves through regulatory review.
CNN’s Future Becomes Part Of The Merger Fight
The Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros. Discovery deal has already drawn scrutiny over media consolidation, Hollywood’s future, and the political direction of major news outlets.
Hegseth’s remark adds more fuel to that fire, especially with the Trump administration involved in the broader regulatory process surrounding the deal.
For CNN critics, Ellison’s potential takeover is being viewed as a chance for major change. For CNN staffers and media watchdogs, it raises new questions about how much pressure the network could face once ownership changes hands.
Either way, Hegseth made his position clear: he thinks CNN cannot change owners fast enough.
