Part 7/11:
Adding to the complicated web is the involvement of political figures, especially former President Donald Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner. Kushner's private equity firm, Definity Partners, withdrew from the financing deal for Paramount’s bid, citing the unstable investment environment and competing interests, notably Netflix's rising dominance.
Trump's influence further complicates matters, as he reportedly opposes the Netflix-Carved-out Warner Brothers acquisition and may exert pressure on regulators to block the deal. His longstanding animosity towards CNN and other media outlets makes his opposition particularly relevant, and it raises concerns about politicized corporate regulation impacting industry consolidation.