Hold onto your remote -- Donald Trump is diving headfirst into the corporate showdown over Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), demanding a shake-up at CNN, as the New York Post reports.

This high-stakes drama pits Netflix’s winning bid for WBD’s Warner Bros. studio and HBO Max against Paramount Skydance’s aggressive play for the entire company, including CNN, with Trump openly favoring the latter for a chance to overhaul the news network’s management.

Netflix has clinched a deal to acquire parts of WBD, offering $30.75 per share in cash and stock, but plans to keep CNN’s current leadership intact.

Trump Reveals Stance on CNN Management

Trump, never one to shy away from a media critique, has made it clear he’s not thrilled with that arrangement, labeling CNN’s team as less than trustworthy.

He’s thrown his weight behind Paramount Skydance’s bid, which offers $30 per share in cash and promises to place CNN under the oversight of CBS subsidiary news chief Bari Weiss.

“I think any deal, it should be guaranteed and certain that CNN is part of it or sold separately, but I don’t think the people that are running that company right now and running CNN, which is a very dishonest group of people, I don’t think that should be allowed to continue,” Trump stated. Let’s unpack that -- while his frustration with perceived bias is loud and clear, one wonders if this direct meddling in corporate deals sets a precedent for overreach.

Paramount Skydance’s Controversial Bid

Paramount Skydance isn’t just banking on a lower offer; they’re pitching “regulatory certainty” from the Trump administration and fewer antitrust hurdles compared to Netflix.

Yet, their bid hasn’t escaped Trump’s ire entirely, especially after a contentious “60 Minutes” interview aired, prompting a sharp rebuke from the president.

“Since they bought it, 60 Minutes has actually gotten WORSE!” Trump exclaimed, pointing fingers at the show’s management. While his exasperation with legacy media is relatable to many on the right, it’s worth asking if personal grudges should steer billion-dollar deals.

Behind-the-Scenes Damage Control

David Ellison and Larry Ellison, the minds behind Paramount Skydance, are now scrambling to smooth things over with the White House after the broadcast fallout.

They’ve claimed they had no prior knowledge of the 60 Minutes segment, a defense that might raise eyebrows given their oversight role.

With whispers of a bidding war heating up -- potentially driving the price to $35 per share or a staggering $91 billion -- this corporate tug-of-war is far from over.

Broader Implications for Media Landscape

Trump’s involvement in the WBD sale review underscores a broader push to reshape media narratives, a cause that resonates with conservatives tired of what they see as entrenched progressive agendas in newsrooms.

While Paramount Skydance’s hostile bid might promise a fresh start for CNN, it also risks fueling accusations of political interference in private enterprise -- hardly a free-market ideal.

As this saga unfolds, the question looms: Should a president wield such influence over who controls a news outlet, or does this signal a much-needed correction to media bias? The answer might depend on where you stand, but one thing’s certain -- this deal is must-watch TV for anyone concerned about the future of journalism.