Merger Cleared, David Ellison to Join Trump at U.F.C. Bouts

The Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House on Sunday is in some ways a birthday present for President Trump, who will celebrate turning 80 by cheering on the fighters inside the specially constructed Claw on the South Lawn.One V.I.P.guest at the fight will be celebrating, too: David Ellison, the technology heir and Paramount Skydance chief executive who on Friday received a gift of sorts from the Trump administration.After months of meticulous courtship of the president and his senior aides, Paramount got word on Friday that the Justice Department would not challenge its $111 billion merger with Warner Bros.

Discovery, eliminating one of the last major obstacles for the deal to close.Upon completion, the merger will elevate Mr.Ellison, 43, into a rarefied level of media moguldom.

He will be in charge of two Hollywood film studios; a pair of streaming services, including HBO Max; and two major television news platforms, CBS News and CNN.Mr.Ellison also controls the exclusive broadcast rights to the U.F.C., one of Mr.

Trump’s favorite sports, after he paid a whopping $7.7 billion last year for the privilege.Americans hoping to watch the event at 8 p.m.

Sunday at the White House — which consists of seven marquee fights — will need a subscription to Paramount+, the Ellison-owned streaming platform.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe....