Trump insists CNN be sold in Warner Bros Discovery deal so it can't 'spend money spreading poison'

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said Wednesday, December 10, that it is “imperative” CNN be sold as part of any deal involving Warner Bros Discovery, signaling potential opposition to Netflix’s proposed $82.7 billion acquisition of the company.

Trump’s remarks mark an unusual presidential intervention in an ongoing corporate review, as he argued that the current CNN management should not remain in control under any future ownership structure.

The comments suggest Trump may favor the competing Paramount–Skydance bid, which seeks to acquire Warner Bros Discovery in its entirety, including CNN and other cable networks. 

Trump demands CNN sale, blasts network leadership as 'dishonest'

Speaking at a White House meeting, Trump said that in “any deal” involving Warner Bros Discovery, it “should be guaranteed and certain that CNN is part of it or sold separately.”

He accused the network’s current leadership of being “either corrupt or incompetent,” adding, “I don’t think the people that are running that company right now and running CNN, which is a very dishonest group of people, I don’t think that should be allowed to continue.”

The president repeated that he does not want CNN's leadership “rewarded” by being allowed to carry on “with money” from any agreement, saying, “I think the people that have run CNN for the last, long period of time are a disgrace.”

Trump concluded, “I think it’s imperative that CNN be sold, because you certainly wouldn’t want to put people… with some money, good money, and CNN, so that they can spend even more money spreading poison, because it’s lies. It’s a disgrace."

Trump accuses CNN of acting as 'an arm of the Democrat Party'

Later in the day, Trump again criticized CNN during a tense exchange with reporter Kristen Holmes, who asked about unreleased video of the second strike on a Venezuelan drug boat.

Trump responded, “No, he hasn’t told me. I thought that issue was dead,” before adding that he was “surprised” she was raising the subject. “You must be CNN. Are you CNN? Are you CNN?”

When Holmes reminded him that lawmakers were still discussing the incident on Capitol Hill, Trump shot back, “Which lawmakers are you talking about? You mean the people that you work for? The Democrats. You know you work for the Democrats. You're basically an arm of the Democrat Party.”

He then dismissed reporters from the room.

Trump earlier said he will be “involved” in the ongoing government review of Netflix’s bid, though traditionally presidents do not directly participate in such regulatory evaluations. 

Asked whether he favored the competing Paramount Skydance offer, he said he needed to assess the implications of both proposals on market share.

He added, “I want to do what’s right.” Trump also denied discussing the Paramount bid with his son-in-law Jared Kushner, whose firm Affinity Partners is involved in financing the offer. “I’ve never spoken with him” about the matter, he said.