Hegseth Endorses Ellison's CNN Acquisition

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated on Friday, March 13, that he anticipates an improvement in CNN's journalism under the prospective ownership of billionaire David Ellison. Hegseth made these remarks during a Pentagon briefing, expressing a desire for Ellison to acquire the network promptly.

Ellison, a technology heir and owner of Paramount Skydance, is in the process of purchasing Warner Bros. Discovery, which includes CNN. This acquisition requires approval from the Trump administration. Hegseth's comments, made amidst criticism of media coverage regarding the Middle East conflict, highlight concerns within the media industry about a potential shift in CNN's editorial direction towards a Trump-friendly stance. Ellison, who acquired CBS last year and appointed opinion journalist Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS News, has publicly affirmed that CNN's editorial independence would be maintained, similar to CBS.

Hegseth, a former Fox News co-host, has previously restricted media access at the Pentagon. His endorsement of Ellison's takeover followed his objection to CNN's reporting on the administration's military offensive in Iran and its potential impact on the Strait of Hormuz, which he dismissed as "patently ridiculous." CNN has stated it stands by its reporting.