Hegseth Pushes Ellison-CNN Takeover, Sparking Media-Influence Debate
At a Friday briefing, Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth derided what he called 'fake' news about the Iran war and openly urged David Ellison—son of billionaire Trump donor Larry Ellison—to take over CNN, a move tied to Ellison’s Paramount Skydance bid for CNN’s parent company. The remarks come amid ongoing controversy over media coverage of the war and a broader push that critics say could increase state-media influence, especially as transparency and access debates continue.