Trump to Be Honored at Dinner Before Correspondents’ Event
President Donald Trump is set to receive recognition from Paramount’s CEO, David Ellison, just ahead of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. This happens as Ellison prepares to host a gathering at the newly named Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace on April 23, which is a couple of days before Trump attends his first annual media gala as president.
The dinner is expected to “honor President Trump’s White House and CBS White House correspondents,” according to an invitation obtained by Breaker Media.
Ellison is in the process of pursuing a $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. If this merger goes through, Ellison will oversee both CBS News and CNN. Notably, Trump has been outspoken about wanting changes in CNN’s leadership, especially amid Paramount’s attempts to acquire Netflix’s parent company.
Critics express concerns that Ellison may shift CNN’s direction to align more closely with Trump and his supporters, pointing out the relationship between the CEO and the former president. Ellison’s father, Larry Ellison, a billionaire and founder of Oracle, has been a significant supporter of Trump.
In a recent interview, Ellison emphasized that CNN would uphold “editorial independence,” yet the aim was to capture the majority of moderate voters from both the center-left and center-right, rather than those on the political fringes.
Neither Paramount nor the White House has commented on this development, and CNN representatives have also refrained from providing a statement.
While Ellison has a considerable journey ahead before taking control of Warner Bros. Discovery, it’s likely he will face little opposition from the Trump administration, which already approved a prior $8 billion merger involving Paramount and Skydance.
Additionally, it has been reported that CBS News has invited administration officials, including Secretary of the Army Pete Hegseth and Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, to the table at the upcoming White House Correspondents’ Dinner. A spokesperson from CBS News mentioned that they extend invitations every year, regardless of which party holds power, highlighting their commitment to engaging with important sources.
