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| David Ellison has combined Skydance with Paramount. Andrew Harnik; CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/ Getty Images |
David Ellison, now officially the head of Paramount Global, faced the press for the first time on Thursday since acquiring the legendary studio. And while the event was meant to usher in a new era for the media company, one topic dominated the room: Donald Trump.
Since Ellison's Skydance Media finalized its acquisition of Paramount from Shari Redstone, there has been persistent speculation about the new owner’s ties to the Trump administration. Most notably, Trump himself has claimed that Paramount’s new leadership has promised him $20 million worth of free advertising. On Thursday, Ellison had the opportunity to address that claim publicly for the first time.
He chose not to.
“We are not going to politicize anything today,” Ellison told reporters, deflecting the question by pointing to a vague prior statement provided to lawmakers. The response did little to clarify whether Trump’s assertion was accurate or to quell the growing curiosity surrounding it.
A Pattern of Silence
Trump’s alleged advertising deal wasn’t the only issue Ellison was reluctant to address. When asked about remarks from Brendan Carr, a Trump-appointed commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Ellison again demurred. Carr has said that the new owners pledged to “root out bias” within CBS News, a division of Paramount, claiming it had undermined public trust in national media.
What examples of bias did Carr mean? How does Ellison intend to “correct” them?
The CEO didn’t engage.
“I do not want to politicize our company in any way, shape, or form,” he repeated, this time in response to questions about Paramount’s agreement with the FCC.
Ellison's Dilemma: Caught Between Politics and the Public
This pattern of evasion may be frustrating for the press, but it’s not hard to see why Ellison is trying to avoid the spotlight on political matters. The new Paramount-Skydance merger came with multiple reported concessions some formal, some whispered. Among them: a $16 million contribution toward the construction of Trump’s presidential library, and alleged verbal commitments to provide favorable media access.
Through all this, Ellison and his team have avoided public comment, keeping the inner workings of the deal carefully guarded. Now that the acquisition is final, it appears that strategy of silence remains in place.
“We’re ready to move past the noise,” Ellison said Thursday, attempting to pivot the conversation away from political entanglements and toward the future of Paramount.
But as many observers have pointed out, that won’t be so simple.
Scrutiny from All Sides
Senator Elizabeth Warren and other lawmakers are already expressing concern over potential political influence at one of the country’s most powerful media institutions. In an environment where fears over media bias and political favoritism run high, any sign that Paramount is bending to White House pressure will be aggressively investigated.
And there’s no guarantee silence will offer protection. As the business world saw just this week, Trump has shown a willingness to go after executives who displease him calling for Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan to resign over alleged ties to Chinese firms.
Ellison may believe that dodging politically charged questions will keep the company out of the line of fire, but the sheer visibility of the Paramount brand means that staying neutral may not be an option. The press and the public are likely to keep asking uncomfortable questions, whether the company wants to answer them or not.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
To be fair, Ellison may find himself in a no-win situation. If he confirms Trump’s claims about ad commitments, bias cleansing, or political deals he could alienate Paramount employees, journalists, and a large portion of the viewership. If he denies them outright, he risks provoking a backlash from Trump, who holds immense sway over regulators and Republican lawmakers.
In this climate, many CEOs have struggled to balance political appeasement with corporate independence. Just this week, Apple CEO Tim Cook appeared on national television presenting Trump with a commemorative gift while talking up new investments in the U.S. moves that observers interpreted as equal parts diplomacy and damage control.
The Ellison-Trump Connection Runs Deep
Ellison’s family ties only add fuel to the speculation. His father, Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle and one of the wealthiest people in the world, has longstanding connections with Donald Trump. Larry reportedly helped finance the Skydance – Paramount deal and has other potential interests tied to Trump’s policies, including a rumored attempt to acquire TikTok, which could benefit from a favorable regulatory environment.
In short, the intersections between the Ellisons and the Trump ecosystem are not going unnoticed. Whether these connections result in any editorial influence or policy shifts at Paramount remains to be seen but the optics alone are enough to keep critics on high alert.
Silence Won’t End the Conversation
Despite David Ellison’s clear desire to “move past the noise,” there’s no escaping the political scrutiny now surrounding his leadership. With federal regulators watching closely, concerned employees asking questions, and vocal public watchdogs like Senator Warren on alert, Ellison’s reluctance to speak may only increase pressure on his fledgling leadership at Paramount.
This isn’t just a test of public relations. It’s a challenge of corporate governance, editorial independence, and media credibility and Ellison's next steps could define the future of Paramount's public trust.
