Paramount CEO David Ellison to host invite-only dinner ‘honoring’ Trump as WB deal awaits approval

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Paramount CEO David Ellison is reportedly planning a private, invitation-only dinner next week. The event will honor Donald Trump and CBS News' White House correspondents.

The dinner is expected to take place at the US Institute of Peace, which is set to be renamed as the "Donald J Trump Institute of Peace," in Washington, DC, on April 23. This is just two days before the annual Correspondents’ Association dinner on April 25.

David Ellison plans private dinner for Trump ahead of major deal

According to Variety, David Ellison is planning to honor Trump with the dinner, while Paramount is waiting for its merger deal with Warner Bros Discovery to be finalized.

The dinner was first mentioned in the Breaker newsletter, which reported the news before others. A spokesperson for Paramount and Skydance did not comment on the reports. Earlier reports from Breaker also said that Pete Hegseth and Stephen Miller were invited as guests to the dinner.

Speaking about that larger event, Trump said he plans to attend it for the first time as president. Magician, author, and mentalist Oz Pearlman will host the evening’s program.

Paramount’s waits to finalize Warner Bros Discovery merger deal

Paramount is planning to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, valued at $111 billion including debt. The deal is not final yet because it still needs approval from regulators and shareholders, who will decide on the same in a special meeting on April 23.

Earlier, Paramount competed with Netflix to secure this deal. According to Firstpost, It won by offering $31 per share in cash as opposed to Netflix's $27.75 bid. If the deal goes through, Paramount+ and HBO Max will unify to one platform. This might help Paramount compete with big companies like Netflix and Disney.

A potential merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery could combine major content libraries from Paramount Pictures, CBS, Warner Bros. Television, HBO, and CNN. However, such a deal would likely face significant regulatory scrutiny in the U.S. and abroad, along with potential opposition from industry labor groups concerned about consolidation in Hollywood.

Many believe the merger could concentrate power and shrink job opportunities for people working in film and TV.

Hollywood stars oppose Paramount-Warner Bros Discovery deal

More than 1,400 people from the industry have signed an open letter opposing the planned merger between Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery.

Actors like Emma Thompson, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Stiller, Javier Bardem, and Rose Byrne have signed a letter against the deal. Others, including Kristen Stewart, Joaquin Phoenix, and Glenn Close, also support it.

According to the BBC, the letter says the merger could be harmful. It states, "This transaction would further consolidate an already concentrated media landscape, reducing competition at a moment when our industries and the audiences we serve can least afford it."

This issue comes at a time when Hollywood is already facing problems after COVID-19, strikes in 2023, and big changes in how people watch content.