Trump Admin Approves Merger Between Paramount and Skydance
Jimin Kim/SOPA Images/Sipa USA via AP Images
The Trump administration approved an $8 billion merger between Paramount and Skydance on Thursday.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 2-1 to approve the merger, which was reportedly greenlit after Skydance CEO David Ellison vowed not to introduce any more DEI policies at the company.
The merger was approved just weeks after Paramount agreed to pay President Donald Trump $16 million as part of a settlement over a 2024 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris.
On Tuesday, Trump announced he was also expecting to receive an additional $20 million in advertising and other programming from Paramount and CBS as part of the settlement.
“BREAKING NEWS! We have just achieved a BIG AND IMPORTANT WIN in our Historic Lawsuit against 60 Minutes, CBS, and Paramount,” wrote Trump. “Just like ABC and George Slopadopoulos, CBS and its Corporate Owners knew that they defrauded the American People, and were desperate to settle.”
He continued:
Paramount/CBS/60 Minutes have today paid $16 Million Dollars in settlement, and we also anticipate receiving $20 Million Dollars more from the new Owners, in Advertising, PSAs, or similar Programming, for a total of over $36 Million Dollars. This is another in a long line of VICTORIES over the Fake News Media, who we are holding to account for their widespread fraud and deceit. The Wall Street Journal, The Failing New York Times, The Washington Post, MSDNC, CNN, and all other Mainstream Media Liars, are ON NOTICE that the days of them being allowed to deceive the American People are OVER. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
Critics – including CBS’ own Stephen Colbert – accused the settlement of being little more than a “big fat bribe” to the Trump administration, pointing to Paramount’s pending merger.
Last week, the Writers Guild of America called on New York State Attorney General Letitia James to “launch an investigation into potential wrongdoing at Paramount.”
