Topline Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison on Tuesday argued an antitrust lawsuit seeking to end his firm’s takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery is because of his politics and pending ownership of CNN, after Paramount agreed to push back its deal to 2027 following a legal challenge by a dozen states. surprising factDavid Ellison’s father, Larry Ellison, backed President Donald Trump’s 2024 reelection and has since established close ties to the Trump administration. David Ellison reportedly hosted Trump and other Trump administration officials at a private dinner earlier this year as Paramount sought federal approval in its deal, with CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss joining David Ellison at Trump’s table. Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin signaled she was skeptical about the deal, saying the antitrust lawsuit made a “strong showing that the transaction will substantially lessen competition.”