--- title: "David Ellison Clarifies Relationship with Trump Administration Amid Warner Bros Acquisition Speculation" url: https://noti.group/david-ellison-clarifies-relationship-with-trump-administration-amid/ language: en publisher: "Noti Group" section: "Entertainment" published: 2026-10-07T01:00:23.000Z updated: 2026-10-07T04:33:45.875Z id: 6d348400-31b9-43ef-b08d-9bb35fb26f9a source: "The Hollywood Reporter https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/david-ellison-donald-trump-maga-close-larry-1236724162/" attribution: "Link to https://noti.group/david-ellison-clarifies-relationship-with-trump-administration-amid/ and name Noti Group when you quote or summarize this story." --- # David Ellison Clarifies Relationship with Trump Administration Amid Warner Bros Acquisition Speculation Skydance Media CEO David Ellison has clarified his relationship with Donald Trump's administration amidst speculation about potential politics influencing his recent deal to acquire Warner Bros. David Ellison, CEO of Skydance Media, has clarified his relationship with the Trump administration amidst speculation about potential politics influencing his recent deal to acquire Warner Bros. According to reports, Ellison had previously interacted with Donald Trump on multiple occasions, including attending a UFC fight and hosting a dinner honoring the president. He also attended a state dinner hosted by Trump for Chinese President Xi Jinping, an event that CNN was barred from. However, in a statement to reporters, Ellison insisted that he does not have an unusually close relationship with Trump. Ellison emphasized his company's goal of maintaining good relationships with all administrations, stating, "We have a good relationship with this administration. We also had a good relationship with the Biden administration." He cited his company's connections with various government officials as evidence of its non-partisan approach, mentioning a "good relationship with Gov. In response to a question about politics influencing his Warner Bros. deal, Ellison stressed the importance of engaging with all sides of the aisle, saying, It's important to talk to everyone on both sides. His comments came during a press event held on the Paramount lot, where he was addressing concerns surrounding the acquisition of Warner Bros. Ellison's comments about his relationship with the Trump administration come as the media landscape is increasingly polarized. The presence of other industry figures at high-profile events like the UFC fight has led some to question whether certain executives are too cozy with the president. This has sparked criticism from both sides, with left-wing advocates calling for entertainment leaders to take a stand and those aligned with the administration singling out executives they disapprove of. Ellison's Skydance team has been through regulatory processes, including the WBD acquisition, which was guided by Makan Delrahim, former Assistant Attorney General at the Justice Department. In Washington on Tuesday, Trump referred to the Ellisons and their team as terrific people, according to a White House pool report. This praise comes after Ellison's comments about engaging with all sides of the aisle during a press event held on the Paramount lot. Historically, media executives have sought to maintain good ties with both parties due to the rapidly shifting winds in Washington. However, this approach has become increasingly challenging as the industry grapples with its role in the current political climate. David Ellison's takeover of CNN has raised concerns about potential interference in editorial decisions, but the mogul insists his track record should allay those fears. Ellison emphasized that he and his team have not engaged in discussions with any political party regarding news coverage, despite a report last November suggesting otherwise. However, the definition of we" could be crucial in determining the accuracy of this claim. Ellison's trips to Washington D.C. have been focused on advocating for a federal film tax credit, which he says is a bipartisan issue supported by South Carolina senator Tim Scott. The acquisition of Paramount by ViacomCBS has been met with a candid assessment from David Ellison, who believes that the film industry's failure to adapt to changing market conditions is responsible for its current state. According to him, major studios like Paramount and Warner Bros. were slow to disrupt their own business models. Ellison suggests that these companies allowed Netflix and Amazon Prime Video to revolutionize the way people consume content, ultimately paving the way for today's acquisitions. The industry's inability to innovate has led to a significant shift in power dynamics, resulting in major studios being acquired by larger conglomerates. --- Source: [The Hollywood Reporter](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/david-ellison-donald-trump-maga-close-larry-1236724162/) Published by Noti Group: https://noti.group/david-ellison-clarifies-relationship-with-trump-administration-amid/