CBS News Journalists Express Concern Over Dinner With Trump Administration, Warn of Perceived “Coziness” Between Press and Power

CBS News journalists expressed concern after attending a private dinner hosted by billionaire David Ellison in honor of President Donald Trump, saying they were “taken aback” by the event and worried it could create a perception of coziness between the news division and the Trump administration.

The dinner, held at the U.S. Institute of Peace on Thursday evening, was described by The New York Times as an event “honoring the Trump White House.” It was attended by top CBS News figures including editor in chief Bari Weiss and senior correspondent Norah O’Donnell, who joined Ellison at Trump’s table during the gathering.

Also present were Secretary of State Marco Rubio, top Trump aide Stephen Miller and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, according to two people briefed on the closed-door event. Blanche currently oversees the Justice Department, and the DOJ’s antitrust division is reviewing Ellison’s proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery through his company, Paramount Skydance.

The timing of the dinner drew scrutiny because it occurred while Ellison awaits federal approval for the Warner Bros. Discovery deal, which would place outlets like CNN and HBO under his control. The New York Times reported that some CBS News journalists were unsettled by the proximity of the event to ongoing regulatory review, fearing it might undermine perceptions of editorial independence.

Weiss and Ellison have maintained that they are not promoting bias at CBS News, but internal dissent persists. Anonymous sources told The Times that the dinner raised alarms among staff about the appearance of undue closeness between journalism and political power, particularly given Ellison’s expanding media influence.

The event has reignited debate over the boundaries between media leadership and political engagement, especially as consolidation in the entertainment and news sectors continues to concentrate power in fewer hands. For CBS News, the incident underscores ongoing challenges in maintaining public trust amid high-profile affiliations that blur the lines between reporting and access.