Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders on Wednesday condemned Jared Kushner’s involvement in Paramount’s hostile takeover of Warner Bros., saying President Trump’s apparent interference in the massive media deal amounted to “authoritarianism.”
Sanders wrote on social platform
“This is authoritarianism,” Sanders added. “Not a democracy.”
Paramount launched a takeover bid on Monday after Netflix announced a $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros., a deal approved by Warner Bros.’s board of directors. Paramount’s bid would acquire all of Warner Bros. Discovery’s (WBD) assets and divisions for $74.4 billion. Kushner leads a company that contributed to the Paramount acquisition.
Netflix said it believes Warner Bros. will reject Paramount’s takeover bid. Paramount launched the bid after it said WBD managers “never meaningfully participated” in its previous bid.
Trump said on Wednesday he wanted Warner Bros. to sell CNN, calling it “imperative.” Paramount executive David Ellison reportedly told Trump that he would make major editorial changes to CNN if Paramount successfully acquires Warner Bros.
“I think CNN should be sold because I think the people who are running CNN right now are either corrupt or incompetent,” Trump told reporters.
White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt on Thursday cited a heated exchange with CNN chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins as good reason for the cable channel to move to new ownership.
“I think the president’s comments about CNN and the new leadership were borne out in my interactions with CNN reporters in this room,” Levitt said.
Trump initially said he was hesitant to approve the Netflix acquisition. He demurred on Monday when asked about Paramount’s takeover bid.
“I don’t know enough about this,” Trump said. “I know these companies very well, I know what they’re doing, and I have to look at what market share they have. I mean, none of them are particularly good friends of mine.”
On Monday, Trump blasted Paramount for his “60 Minutes” interview with his former ally Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). Trump said the studio was “no better than the old ownership,” led by Sally Redstone.
If the Netflix acquisition is approved, the streaming giant will gain access to a large number of Warner Bros. assets, including the “Harry Potter” and “Game of Thrones” series, as well as DC Studios and streaming service HBO Max.
The Associated Press contributed.
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