Trump TV Rumors Gain New Life

Son-in-law Jared Kushner reportedly met with investment banker for 'informal' talk about possible network
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 17, 2016 11:21 AM CDT
Trump Son-in-Law Held Meeting on Trump TV: Sources
Donald Trump is joined by his daughter Tiffany, left, and son-in-law Jared Kushner as he speaks during a news conference at the Trump National Golf Club Westchester on June 7, 2016, in Briarcliff Manor, NY.   (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Donald Trump said last month he has zero interest in forming a media company, but a short conversation said to have taken place between his son-in-law and the head of an independent investment bank has generated new buzz around that rumor. Per Reuters, three sources "with knowledge of the matter" tell the Financial Times that Jared Kushner, husband to Ivanka Trump and publisher of the weekly New York Observer, met "informally" with LionTree Advisors CEO Aryeh Bourkoff sometime over the last two months to brainstorm about a possible Trump TV network. Vanity Fair notes Bourkoff was the driving force behind Verizon's 2015 AOL buy and Charter Communications' takeover of Time Warner Cable earlier this year. Not everyone is surprised at whispers of this new possible mine for Trump to plumb after the election is over, CNNMoney notes.

"Who could have possibly seen this one coming?" was the sarcastic tweet of GOP Sen. Ben Sasse about the possibility of a Trump network, which CNN points out would potentially take on Fox News from the right, and which CNN President Jeff Zucker has said is "harder to do than people think it is." It's also not terribly surprising Kushner may be the one putting out feelers for this type of deal, as he's been instrumental in his father-in-law's campaign and is a Bourkoff pal. Vanity Fair points out the concept isn't so outlandish as "the wheels continue to come off" Trump's campaign for the presidency and notes discussion about a "post-election media goldmine makes a whole lot more sense" than other things Trump's done of late. Also in his favor: "He's a billionaire entertainer who shines on reality shows and beauty-pageant stages and tabloid covers." Neither Kushner nor Bourkoff have commented. (More Donald Trump stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X