Trump calls for CNN sale amid Warner Bros. Discovery takeover battle

US President Donald Trump has renewed his long-running feud with CNN, publicly calling for the news network to be sold as its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, becomes the target of a major corporate takeover battle. Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Trump asserted that the people currently running CNN are "either corrupt or incompetent" and should not be entrusted with its operation.

A demand for guaranteed sale in any merger

Trump insisted that any acquisition deal involving Warner Bros. Discovery should guarantee CNN's sale, either as part of a package or separately. "I don't think they should be entrusted with running CNN any longer," he stated. The president, who has frequently attacked the network as "fake news," framed his demand as a matter of media integrity, though critics view it as an attempt to influence a major media entity critical of his administration.

High-stakes bidding war for media giant

The president's remarks coincide with a fierce bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery. Last week, Netflix announced an agreement to acquire Warner Bros., including its studios and HBO, in a deal valued at approximately $82.7 billion. Shortly after, Paramount submitted a counteroffer to buy all shares for $30 each, valuing the company at roughly $108.4 billion and providing a significantly larger cash payout to shareholders than the Netflix bid. Both offers encompass all business segments, including the cable networks that house CNN.

Implications for media ownership and free press

The potential sale of CNN, whether dictated by corporate merger logic or political pressure, raises significant questions about media consolidation and editorial independence in the United States. Trump's direct intervention in an active commercial process underscores the deeply politicized environment surrounding major media outlets and highlights ongoing tensions between his administration and press organizations it deems hostile.