President Trump Designates Chairmen and Acting Chairmen

Claims supported by this source

1. factdocumented

   The agreement named David Ellison as the combined company's prospective chair and chief executive and identified Shari Redstone as chair, president, and chief executive of National Amusements; completion remained subject to regulatory approvals, and Trump later designated Brendan Carr as FCC chairman before the Commission acted on the transfer.

   January 20, 2025 designation of Brendan Carr as FCC chairman

   Skydance agreement set the terms for control of Paramount and CBS · Transaction completed August 7, 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-03

2. factdocumented

   Donald Trump designated Brendan Carr chairman of the Federal Communications Commission on January 20, 2025.

   January 20, 2025 chairman designation table

   Trump designated Brendan Carr to chair the FCC · FCC chair in office as of July 15, 2026 · reviewed 2026-09-03

3. factdocumented

   In a July 22 filing to Trump-designated FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, Skydance committed New Paramount programming to ideological viewpoint diversity, described CBS reporting as fair, unbiased, and fact-based, and promised an ombudsman for at least two years to report to the president of New Paramount and evaluate CBS bias complaints.

   January 20, 2025 designation of Brendan Carr as FCC chairman

   Skydance committed CBS to viewpoint and ombudsman measures · Commitment recorded in the July 24 FCC order · reviewed 2026-09-03

4. factdocumented

   In a July 22 filing to Trump-designated FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, Skydance said it had no DEI programs and would not establish them at New Paramount, confirmed elimination of Paramount initiatives, and described changes covering leadership, training, sponsorships, suppliers, hiring, career development, and messaging; the FCC accepted the commitments as firm and definite.

   January 20, 2025 designation of Brendan Carr as FCC chairman

   Skydance filed employment-policy commitments during FCC review · Accepted as firm and definite in the July 24 FCC order · reviewed 2026-09-03

5. factdocumented

   Donald Trump designated Brendan Carr as FCC chairman on January 20, 2025, before the Commission's Paramount transfer decision.

   Chairman designation table

   FCC granted the Paramount broadcast-license control transfers · Transfer applications granted; transaction later closed · reviewed 2026-09-03

6. factdocumented

   FCC 25-43, issued under Trump-designated Chairman Brendan Carr, said the separate CBS news-distortion proceeding remained open and was not prejudged by the merger order; it also found no substantial and material question of fact on an allegation that Skydance had prematurely assumed control, because the objector supplied no specific factual evidence.

   January 20, 2025 designation of Brendan Carr as FCC chairman

   FCC order left the CBS complaint open and rejected an unsupported control claim · Merger order did not adjudicate the separate news-distortion complaint · reviewed 2026-09-03

7. factdocumented

   Skydance Media and Paramount Global completed their merger on August 7, 2025, after the FCC decision under Trump-designated Chairman Brendan Carr; the combined company's portfolio included CBS and CBS News, and David Ellison became chair and chief executive.

   January 20, 2025 designation of Brendan Carr as FCC chairman

   Paramount-Skydance merger closed after FCC approval · Merger completed · reviewed 2026-09-03

8. factdocumented

   On September 8, 2025, Paramount announced Kenneth R. Weinstein as CBS News ombudsman to review editorial questions and concerns from employees and outside entities and report to Paramount president Jeff Shell, implementing the role promised in the FCC transfer record under Trump-designated Chairman Brendan Carr.

   January 20, 2025 designation of Brendan Carr as FCC chairman

   Paramount appointed the promised CBS News ombudsman · Appointment announced by CBS News · reviewed 2026-09-03

9. factdocumented

   After the Paramount-Skydance combination approved under Trump-designated FCC Chairman Brendan Carr closed, Paramount acquired The Free Press and made co-founder Bari Weiss editor-in-chief of CBS News, where Paramount said she would shape editorial priorities and report directly to chief executive David Ellison; The Free Press retained its own brand and operations.

   January 20, 2025 designation of Brendan Carr as FCC chairman

   Paramount acquired The Free Press and installed its founder at CBS News · Acquisition completed; editorial appointment in effect · reviewed 2026-09-03