Name: Warner Bros fight: Trump son-in-law is key player in takeover battle
Uploaded: 2025-12-09T18:21:09.598Z
Duration: 1 min 42 s
Description: Jared Kushner’s role in helping finance Paramount’s $108 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery is injecting Trump-family interests into one of the most significant media battles in years.

Jared Kushner’s role in helping finance Paramount’s $108 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery is injecting Trump-family interests into one of the most significant media battles in years.

Washington

A high-profile battle for control of Warner Bros has drawn scrutiny due to the involvement of Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump's son-in-law, whose investment firm is helping finance Paramount's bid. Both Paramount and Netflix are seeking to acquire Warner Bros, but their proposals are expected to face significant antitrust review due to the potential consolidation of media market share.

President Trump has praised Netflix's leadership but expressed skepticism about its market dominance, while also distancing himself from Paramount despite his son-in-law's involvement. The financing for Paramount's bid includes contributions from Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds, and the process is under close government oversight due to the scale and implications of the merger.

Warner Bros fight: Trump son-in-law is key player in takeover battle

Could the president's influence tip the scales in the Paramount v Netflix media battle over Warner Brothers? On Monday, Donald Trump was evasive. I know the companies very well, I know what they're doing, but I have to see what percentage of market they have. We have to see the Netflix percentage of market, Paramount, the percentage of market. I mean, none of them are particularly great friends of mine. Both Paramount and Netflix are likely to face intense antitrust scrutiny because their respective deals would consolidate significant portions of the market. This gives the government a big say in who ultimately buys Warner Bros. While praising Netflix's head Ted Sarandos, who's made overtures to Trump, the president expressed skepticism about the company's bid. Netflix is a great company, they've done a phenomenal job. Ted is a fantastic man, I have a lot of respect for him, but it's a lot of market share. But Trump's involvement in the decision raises conflict of interest concerns. Paramount's hostile bid for Warner Bros. includes financing from Affinity Partners, an investment firm run by Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, along with financing from the Saudi and Qatari sovereign wealth funds and the holding company owned by Abu Dhabi. If Paramount was supported by Jared Kushner, Mr President, would that impact your decision? Who Paramount is? I don't know, I've never spoken to them. Meanwhile, Paramount's head, David Ellison, is the son of the world's second richest man, Larry Ellison, who has close ties to Donald Trump. Last summer, David Ellison's Skydance Media overcame regulatory hurdles to buy Paramount Global after being greenlit by the Trump administration.

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