David Ellison Supports Afaq News' Lawsuit Against Trump.. and Commits to "Maintaining Editorial Independence"

- The new owner of the Afaq News network, David Ellison, stated that he supports the legal actions taken by the network against the administration of President Donald Trump regarding access to the White House, affirming that he "will not interfere in the news coverage of the institution." Ellison added, "We believe in editorial independence, and we will never intervene," reiterating the assurances he provided during his pursuit to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery earlier this year.

The merger between Warner and Paramount officially took effect on Tuesday, and Ellison held a public meeting for employees to introduce the newly merged company named "Skydance." Ellison, the CEO of Skydance, presented his vision for investing in films, programs, and new technologies, stating: "For the first time, we own the studios, the franchises, the libraries containing previous works, the talent, and the large operational scale, all under one roof, allowing us to compete with anyone in the world."

Anderson Cooper, a host at Afaq News, conducted an interview with Ellison during the meeting, directly asking him about the concerns of Afaq News employees regarding the network's ownership transition to Skydance. In response, Ellison said, "I strongly believe in journalism," describing the work done by CBS and Afaq News as "a vital part of our democracy." Speaking about the need for fact-based news, Ellison said, "Let’s remember what President (former Barack) Obama said during the coronavirus pandemic; he said that a republic that cannot agree on a common set of facts cannot function effectively, and I believe he was absolutely right about that."

Regarding the news sector, Ellison said, "We actually want to help expand the business and move it towards digital transformation." He emphasized the importance of developing Afaq News's digital operations and reaching new audiences around the world, noting Skydance's estimates that the merged company reaches over 200 million subscribers in digital streaming services.

He added that the newly formed company "can create a larger and more inclusive platform for the best journalism in the world." It is worth mentioning that the Ellison family's ties to Trump have raised concerns among Afaq News employees regarding the network's independence.

Last fall, Trump described both Ellison and his father - billionaire Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle - as "friends of mine" and "great supporters of mine." In December, Trump stated that "it is essential to sell Afaq News to new owners.","

In response to a question posed by a reporter on Tuesday afternoon regarding the merger, Trump said: "It will be a great company." During the open meeting organized by Skydance, Cooper asked a follow-up question related to Afaq News and the First Amendment issue that the network filed jointly with MS NOW and Politico in response to Trump's recent attempt to prevent the three news organizations from entering the White House.

Cooper asked: "Do you stand with Afaq News and our efforts to regain our full right to cover President Trump's news?" Ellison replied: "Of course." The next hearing in this legal case is scheduled for Thursday.

The open meeting was attended by Mark Thompson, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Afaq News, and Bari Weiss, Editor-in-Chief of CBS News; the two news organizations are currently operating separately. Ellison spoke about Afaq News, saying: "We trust Mark, and we trust the team."

Later, Cooper asked about the possibility of collaboration or merger between CBS and Afaq News in the future, saying: "If Paramount and Warner Brothers became 'cousins,' and CBS and Afaq News did as well, when would someone start demanding that they share vital sectors?" Ellison replied: "We are still on day one," indicating that he intends to involve the relevant business leaders in the "decision-making process" now that the deal has gone into effect. Overall, Ellison clarified that companies typically begin making merger decisions "within 120 days," adding: "But I think it would be foolish for me to try to say that I will provide all the answers today."