Paramount denies Larry Ellison pledged to Trump that he would overhaul CNN after WBD merger

Paramount Skydance is denying a report that Larry and David Ellison promised the Trump administration they would overhaul CNN as part of the company’s blockbuster acquisition of Warner Bros.Discovery.A spokesperson told The Post the company made “no commitments from either David or Larry Ellison … regarding the future of CNN or any other news property, other than the goal to deliver truth-based journalism,” echoing a statement first provided to the Wall Street Journal.The Journal reported Monday that Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, the father of Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, privately told President Trump that Paramount could remake CNN if the company succeeded in buying WBD, whose assets include the cable news network.The paper, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that both Trump and Ellison viewed CNN as biased against conservatives and the administration.The Journal also reported that the Justice Department’s approval earlier this month of Paramount Skydance’s $81 billion acquisition of WBD came despite concerns raised by some antitrust staffers.“President Trump has consistently maintained that he was neutral to all parties throughout the Warner Bros.

Discovery bidding process,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai told The Post.A CNN spokesperson declined to comment.The Post has sought comment from Larry Ellison.RedBird Capital founder Gerry Cardinale — whose firm partnered with Skydance on the Warner Bros.

Discovery acquisition — appeared to tamp down speculation over CNN’s future.Asked by Breaker Media whether Bari Weiss should ultimately oversee both CBS News and CNN after the merger closes, Cardinale declined to endorse the idea.“I’m not going to touch that,” Cardinale said, adding that he and David Ellison are “huge believers” in CNN and praising CNN CEO Mark Thompson as “a phenomenal leader.” Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.Please pro...