Trump Wants CNN to Change Hands with the Sale of Warner Bros Discovery

Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that he wants to ensure that CNN, which he has long accused of serving his Democratic opponents and being an "enemy of the people," changes ownership as part of the sale of its parent company, Warner Bros Discovery.

The American media and entertainment group that owns CNN is currently in a bidding war between its competitor Paramount Skydance and streaming giant Netflix.

Led by David Ellison, the son of billionaire Larry Ellison, a close associate of Donald Trump, Paramount Skydance is proposing to buy Warner Bros Discovery in its entirety, including CNN.

In Netflix's offer, however, CNN would be housed in a separate entity that would be publicly traded before the acquisition.

During a roundtable discussion at the White House on Wednesday, Donald Trump suggested that CNN should either be part of any agreement or sold separately.

"I think CNN should be sold, because the people running it right now are either corrupt or incompetent," he said, reiterating his usual rhetoric against the major American media.

He claimed that he could personally get involved in the government's decision to approve the sale, which typically falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice.

According to American media, the two potential buyers, which Trump referred to as "good companies," have appealed to the White House and the president himself to support their bids.

The Republican billionaire has long had a hostile relationship with CNN and other major media outlets, which he labels as "lying media" and frequently attacks on social media.

His insistence that CNN ends up in friendly hands seems to favor Paramount Skydance's offer.

Since David Ellison took over in August, the television and film group has notably appointed Bari Weiss, an anti-woke journalism figure, as the head of CBS News, one of Trump's targets.

The channel had also recently decided to end "The Late Show" hosted by Stephen Colbert, a vocal critic of the American president.

However, Trump sharply criticized Paramount on Monday for allowing an interview with his former ally, now opponent, Marjorie Taylor Greene, to air on CBS News.

In contrast, Netflix is associated with the Democrats, with its co-founder Reed Hastings being a significant donor to the party.