Politics in the billionaire class is rarely a straight line. If you’re trying to figure out if David Ellison is a Democrat or a Republican, you're basically looking for a label on a guy who moves like a chameleon.
He’s the CEO of Skydance Media and now the heavy hitter running the Paramount Skydance empire. People want a simple answer. They want to know if he's like his father, Larry Ellison—the Oracle founder who’s a legendary GOP megadonor—or if he’s carved out his own path.
Honestly? It depends on which year you look at and which deal is on the table.
The $1 Million Question: David Ellison’s Donation History
If you look at the Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings from early 2024, the answer seems obvious. David Ellison looked like a Democrat. He cut a check for $929,600 to the Biden Victory Fund.
That wasn't just pocket change. It was a massive signal to the industry that he was backing the incumbent. At the time, he was joined by other tech-adjacent figures like Dustin Moskovitz. You’d think that settles it, right?
Not exactly.
While his father, Larry, was funneling tens of millions into GOP congressional races and helping Tim Scott’s presidential ambitions, David was playing the other side. But in the high-stakes world of media mergers, money often follows the path of least resistance for business goals.
Why the "Democrat" Label Didn't Stick
By 2025, the vibe shifted. Hard.
After the second Trump administration took office, David Ellison’s political identity underwent a public makeover. You’ve probably seen the headlines about the Paramount-Skydance merger. To get that deal through regulatory hurdles, Ellison didn't act like a "Hollywood liberal." He acted like a savvy operator who knew exactly which way the wind was blowing.
He started showing up ringside at UFC fights with Donald Trump. That’s not a move you make if you’re trying to keep your "Biden donor" status at the top of your resume.
The "New Paramount" and Conservative Shifts
The real evidence of David Ellison's current political trajectory isn't in his checkbook—it’s in his hiring.
Once the merger was finalized in August 2025, Ellison didn't waste time. He made some massive, "conservative-friendly" changes at CBS News. The most shocking move? Hand-picking Bari Weiss, the founder of The Free Press, as the new editor-in-chief of CBS News.
For those who follow media politics, Weiss is a lightning rod. She’s famous for quitting the New York Times and railing against "woke" culture and "cancel culture." Ellison bringing her in was a loud, clear message to the Trump administration: I’m not the guy who funded Biden anymore. I’m the guy who’s going to "fix" the media bias you hate.
The Warner Bros. Discovery Drama
The plot thickened when Ellison went after Warner Bros. Discovery (the parent company of CNN). Reportedly, David Ellison gave personal assurances to President Trump. The deal? If he was allowed to buy the company, he’d perform "sweeping changes" at CNN—a network Trump has famously called the "enemy of the people."
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He even worked with Jared Kushner and Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds to finance parts of these bids. This isn't the behavior of a standard Democrat. It’s the behavior of someone deeply embedded in the "MAGA-adjacent" business elite.
Is David Ellison a Democrat or Republican? The Nuanced Reality
If you’re looking for a voter registration card, you might find one thing. But if you’re looking at his actions in 2026, he is effectively operating as a pro-Trump Republican ally.
Let's look at the breakdown of his "political" moves:
- 2020-2024: Acted as a centrist or Democrat donor, likely to stay in favor with the prevailing administration and Hollywood circles.
- 2025-2026: Shifted heavily toward the GOP. He’s gutted DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies at his companies and leaned into "anti-woke" rhetoric to satisfy regulators.
- The "Father Factor": Larry Ellison is one of Trump’s closest allies. Many analysts believe David’s recent rightward lunge is a strategic alignment with his father’s power base to build a "pro-Trump media behemoth."
Is he a true believer? It's hard to say. Some people think he’s a "transactional Republican." He isn't necessarily a culture warrior by heart, but he knows that in 2026, being a friend of the White House is the only way to become the "CEO of Everything."
What This Means for Your Screen
Why does David Ellison’s political leanings matter to you? Because he now controls CBS, Paramount+, Nickelodeon, and MTV.
If he succeeds in his quest for Warner Bros. Discovery, he’ll add HBO and CNN to that list. We are seeing a massive consolidation of media power into the hands of a man who has proven he will shift his entire political identity to close a deal.
Democratic lawmakers like Elizabeth Warren are already sounding the alarm, calling these mergers "wildly corrupt." They see a future where one family—the Ellisons—controls almost everything you watch, with a direct line to the Oval Office.
Actionable Insights: How to Track the Shift
If you want to see where David Ellison is heading next, don't watch the news—watch the corporate filings and the "About Us" pages of his companies.
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- Watch the Newsroom: Keep an eye on CBS News' evening broadcasts. Are they getting more "opinionated"? The Bari Weiss era is just beginning.
- Monitor the Mergers: If the Warner Bros. deal goes through despite antitrust concerns, you know his relationship with the current administration is stronger than ever.
- Check FEC Disclosures: Toward the end of 2026, check if he starts donating to the RNC. That will be the final nail in the coffin of his "Democrat" past.
David Ellison is a businessman first. Right now, business is red.
Stay informed by diversifying your news sources. If one man owns the majority of the major networks, the "truth" starts to look very one-sided. Check out independent outlets and international news to balance out the "New Paramount" perspective.
The most important thing to remember is that in the world of the ultra-rich, political parties are often just tools to be used and discarded. David Ellison’s "party" is whatever party helps him win.