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Senate Democrats Demand Answers From David Ellison About Paramount Skydance’s Dealings With Trump in Warner Bros. Takeover Bid, Accuse CEO of ‘Pattern of Evasion’

February 19, 2026 at 06:08 PM
By Todd Spangler
Senate Democrats Demand Answers From David Ellison About Paramount Skydance’s Dealings With Trump in Warner Bros. Takeover Bid, Accuse CEO of ‘Pattern of Evasion’
A group of eight Democratic U.S. senators sent a letter to David Ellison, chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance, asking that he “preserve all records related to the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery transaction” — and demanding answers about how his company has interacted with President Trump and the White House in its hostile takeover bid […]

💡Analysis & Context

This isn't just about a media merger; it's a preemptive political strike, signaling that any major corporate deal involving entities perceived to have political ties will face intense scrutiny, especially from Democrats. The senators are weaponizing the optics of Trump connections to derail or at least complicate a significant industry consolidation. This political interference could chill future M&A activity, forcing companies to weigh potential government scrutiny and public perception as heavily as financial considerations, ultimately impacting market efficiency and innovation. Watch for Ellison's response to the letter, and whether this political pressure emboldens other lawmakers to scrutinize unrelated corporate dealings for perceived political influence.

📋 Quick Summary

Eight Democratic senators are demanding answers from Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison regarding his company's dealings with President Trump amidst a Warner Bros. takeover bid. This move suggests a new front in political oversight, where corporate mergers could be scrutinized not just for antitrust concerns, but for perceived political affiliations, potentially chilling future M&A activity across industries.

A group of eight Democratic U.S. senators sent a letter to David Ellison, chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance, asking that he “preserve all records related to the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery transaction” — and demanding answers about how his company has interacted with President Trump and the White House in its hostile takeover bid […] Home Film News Feb 19, 2026 10:08am PT Senate Democrats Demand Answers From David Ellison About Paramount Skydance’s Dealings With Trump in Warner Bros. Takeover Bid, Accuse CEO of ‘Pattern of Evasion’ By Todd Spangler Plus Icon Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor xpangler Latest Senate Democrats Demand Answers From David Ellison About Paramount Skydance’s Dealings With Trump in Warner Bros. Takeover Bid, Accuse CEO of ‘Pattern of Evasion’ 13 minutes ago Jason Concepcion Hosts ‘Wait a Second…’ Video Podcast From Spotify’s The Ringer About Conspiracy Theories, True Crime and More: ‘Stories That Make You Say What the F—’ 24 hours ago Paramount Skydance ‘Prepared to Engage’ With Warner Bros. Discovery on Takeover Talks, but Doesn’t Indicate Whether It Will Raise Price of Its Hostile Bid 2 days ago See All Getty Images A group of eight Democratic U.S. senators sent a letter to David Ellison, chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance, asking that he “preserve all records related to the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery transaction” — and demanding answers about how his company has interacted with President Trump and the White House in its hostile takeover bid of WBD. The letter was sent to Ellison by Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.). The full text of the letter is at this link. Related Stories China Box Office: 'Zootopia 2' Remains on Top in Pre–Lunar New Year Lull
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