David Ellison to Attend Trump's State of the Union Address

Variety

by Jack Dunn

February 25, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

David Ellison, the boss of Paramount Skydance, will attend Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday night. This comes as his studio has increased its bid for Warner Bros. Discovery to $31 per share, just hours before the event. Sen. Lindsey Graham confirmed that Ellison will be his guest at the speech, adding a political dimension to the already high-stakes situation. The move has sparked speculation about whether Ellison’s attendance could influence Trump’s involvement in regulatory decisions regarding the merger. The bidding war between Paramount and Netflix for Warner Bros. Discovery is one of the largest media deals in history. While Netflix currently holds an $83 billion agreement, Paramount is offering a whopping $112 billion for the entire company, including its linear assets. The deal includes additional terms such as a ticking fee of 25 cents per quarter and a $7 billion breakup fee if regulatory scrutiny halts the merger. This has left Warner Bros. Discovery’s board in a tough position, with four business days to decide whether Paramount’s offer is superior before recommending a vote on the Netflix deal. Ellison’s attendance at Trump’s address has raised eyebrows due to his father’s long-standing support for Trump. However, the president has distanced himself from claims of close ties to Ellison, even going so far as to criticize media treatment of him since the alleged “takeover” of CBS. Despite earlier statements suggesting he wouldn’t get involved in regulating the deal, Trump recently demanded Netflix fire board member Susan Rice, signaling his potential influence on the outcome. The situation highlights the intersection of entertainment and politics, with massive financial stakes and the potential for

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Originally published on Variety on 2/25/2026