Popular CNN anchorman Anderson Cooper might soon need to answer to Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, if Paramount Skydance succeeds in its bid to take over Warner Bros. Discovery. Paramount’s CEO David Ellison, a prominent Trump supporter, is leading the $108 billion takeover bid of the entertainment giant that owns CNN. But the company failed to mention in its press release that it includes funding from a company Kushner owns.
Jared Kushner’s company could become Cooper’s boss
Documents on Paramount’s takeover bid of CNN’s parent company reveal that a portion of its funding comes from Affinity Partners, a private equity firm owned by Jared Kushner in addition to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, as reported by The Guardian.
While Paramount did not mention Affinity Partners in its press release about its all-cash offer to buy out Warner Bros. Discovery, the outlet discovered that the name of Kushner’s firm was buried in paperwork filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
So if the deal goes through, the channel that Anderson Cooper has been working for since 2001 could become partially owned by the Trump family. Given that the 58-year-old news anchor was mockingly called “Allison Cooper” by Donald Trump in 2024, per The Associated Press, this outcome might not sit well with him.
On top of that, earlier this week Cooper signed an extension of his contract with CNN, which means it could be difficult for him to resign immediately if the Paramount offer is accepted.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has stated that the proposed $72 billion merger between Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery “could be a problem,” as noted by NBC News. More than that, the president said he would be “involved in that decision,” though the merger’s approval will ultimately be made by the Justice Department’s antitrust division. Still, Kushner’s involvement in Paramount’s bid could influence whether the president puts his thumb on the scale.
Anderson Cooper will continue his AC2 tour with Andy Cohen that will make a stop in New York City on January 23 and 24, 2026.
