Paramount Executive Links Warner Bros Merger Criticism to Antisemitism

WHO:

JNS.org - Makan Delrahim, chief legal officer of Paramount Skydance Corporation, is 56 years old and was born in Tehran.

JNS.org - David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance, is Jewish.

JNS.org - Makan Delrahim, chief legal officer of Paramount Skydance Corporation

JNS.org - David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance

JNS.org - Seth Stern, director of advocacy for the Freedom of the Press Foundation

JNS.org - John Cusack, actor and board member of the Freedom of the Press Foundation

JNS.org - Azmat Khan, Columbia University journalism professor and board member of the Freedom of the Press Foundation

WHAT:

JNS.org - Delrahim stated, “There’s a lot of fear-mongering, particularly from people in Washington, D.C. They are running a political campaign.”

JNS.org - Seth Stern, director of advocacy for the Freedom of the Press Foundation, said, “I’m one of many Jews working to stop the Ellisons from throwing American journalism under the bus to appease Donald Trump.”

JNS.org - Delrahim stated that some opposition to the Warner Bros. Discovery merger is motivated by antisemitism.

JNS.org - The proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance is valued at over $111 billion.

JNS.org - Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders approved the deal in April.

JNS.org - The Freedom of the Press Foundation released a letter urging regulators and lawmakers to oppose the merger.

WHERE:

JNS.org - The merger is subject to regulatory approval in the United States and overseas, including the European Union.

WHEN:

JNS.org - European Union regulators are expected to issue a decision next month.

WHY:

JNS.org - Delrahim claimed that critics are trying to inflict harm on the transaction due to their own antisemitic views.

JNS.org - Delrahim claimed that critics are running a political campaign and inflicting harm on the transaction due to their antisemitic views.

JNS.org - The Freedom of the Press Foundation argues that the merger could undermine journalistic independence and is a political arrangement to circumvent constitutional safeguards.

HOW:

JNS.org - Delrahim denied any arrangement with the White House, stating, “There are no deals with the president.”

(UPDATED June 4, 2026 01:51 UTC)

Makan Delrahim, the chief legal officer of Paramount Skydance Corporation, recently expressed concerns about fear-mongering in Washington, D.C., claiming that critics are attempting to undermine a transaction due to their antisemitic views. He emphasized that there are no deals with the president, directly denying any arrangement with the White House. Meanwhile, Seth Stern from the Freedom of the Press Foundation voiced his commitment to protecting American journalism, stating he is among many Jews opposing the Ellisons' actions.

(UPDATED June 3, 2026 23:32 UTC)

Makan Delrahim, the chief legal officer of Paramount Skydance Corporation, has stated that some opposition to the company's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, valued at over $111 billion, is driven by antisemitism. The Freedom of the Press Foundation has released a letter urging regulators and lawmakers to oppose the merger, arguing that it could undermine journalistic independence, while Delrahim denied any arrangement with the White House, asserting, “There are no deals with the president.” European Union regulators are expected to issue a decision on the merger next month, following its approval by Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders in April.