Hollywood executives and Democratic lawmakers are voicing concern that President Donald Trump's growing intervention in media affairs may be influencing major corporate decisions, Politico reported Saturday.
Angst in Tinseltown is rising after Paramount Skydance struck a $110 billion deal Friday to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery.
The agreement came hours after Netflix withdrew from the bidding war, a move that followed Trump's public demand that Netflix fire former Democratic national security adviser Susan Rice from its board or "pay the consequences."
While Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said the decision was purely financial, calling the deal "a 'nice to have' at the right price, not a 'must have' at any price," many in the industry fear politics played a role.
"It's horrifying that any president would put his finger on the scale for one company over another," said producer Bill Gerber, a former Warner Bros. executive.
Assemblymember Nick Schultz, whose Burbank district includes the Warner Bros. lot, warned the episode "will set a bad precedent for Hollywood."
"I don't have a bone to pick with Paramount per se; my concern remains the influence of the Trump administration," Schultz told Politico.
The sale, which still requires regulatory approval and a March 20 shareholder vote, would reshape the entertainment industry and throws into question the future of CNN, owned by Warner Bros.
Trump has said it is "imperative" that CNN be sold as part of any transaction.
Rep. Laura Friedman, D-Calif., said antitrust decisions "must be based solely on what is best for hardworking Americans, consumers, and competition," adding, "We must investigate every instance where there is evidence that Trump meddled or wielded improper influence over what should be neutral regulatory processes."
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, said the pact "is not a done deal," confirming his office has "an open investigation" and intends "to be vigorous in our review."
The political backdrop is particularly sensitive, given Paramount's recent history.
When David Ellison's Skydance acquired Paramount last year, the Federal Communications Commission approved the transaction after Paramount agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit Trump brought against its CBS News division.
Two House Democrats later raised "significant concerns" that the payment could amount to "an illegal bribe," an allegation Paramount denies.
Ellison, whose Warner bid is backed by his father, Oracle founder Larry Ellison, has reportedly promised "sweeping changes" at CNN.
Beyond politics, the merger underscores accelerating media consolidation as legacy studios combine to compete with streaming giants like Netflix and Disney.
Analysts say Paramount would gain a vast content library, making it "a really viable competitor." But cost-cutting could follow, with expectations of "many near-term layoffs."
"There is a lot of angst in our community," Schultz said.
For many in Hollywood, the deeper concern is precedent, whether presidential pressure is beginning to shape not just programming, but also corporate control of America's media giants.
James Morley III ✉
James Morley III is a writer with more than two decades of experience in entertainment, travel, technology, and science and nature.
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