Jared Kushner has surfaced as one of the outside investors supporting Paramount Skydance’s hostile bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, a move that could give the Trump family indirect influence over CNN. Paramount confirmed that Kushner’s firm, Affinity Partners, is part of the group backing the $40 billion cash component of the offer, alongside Larry Ellison, RedBird Capital, and sovereign wealth funds from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. Ellison’s long-standing political and business ties to Israel, and his studio’s vocal opposition to cultural boycotts of Israeli institutions, have drawn attention as media ownership debates intensify.

Affinity Partners’ involvement adds a political layer to the takeover, especially since any acquisition would require approval from the Trump administration. Trump has repeatedly criticized CNN and has said he would be involved in reviewing another proposed media deal, raising concerns about impartiality in a process traditionally insulated from presidential influence. Kushner’s fund has already come under scrutiny for its backing from the Saudi Public Investment Fund, and analysts warn that the presence of foreign investors is likely to trigger a rigorous CFIUS review despite the investors’ pledge to forgo governance rights.

Both Paramount and Netflix would face heavy antitrust scrutiny, giving the government significant leverage over the outcome. Ethics experts say Trump’s role in the review poses clear questions about conflicts of interest, especially since his family businesses remain active through a trust he can reclaim once out of office. Kushner’s past role in Middle East policy, combined with Affinity Partners’ recent expansion into large-scale deals, has already fueled debate about the blurred line between political power and private investment.