Trump Signals Netflix–Warner Deal May Face Antitrust Scrutiny — “I’ll Be Involved in That Decision”

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President Trump has publicly commented on Netflix’s potential purchase of Warner Bros., a major deal in the entertainment industry, and his remarks are already causing a stir among investors and those in Washington and Hollywood. He confirmed meeting with Netflix’s Ted Sarandos and indicated that the acquisition will face scrutiny from his administration, suggesting Netflix won’t have an easy time completing the deal. This is the first sign that the White House may not readily approve the purchase of such a historic studio.

And that means the Trump–Netflix relationship is suddenly center stage.

A Meeting at the White House—and a Warning Shot

Trump acknowledged Netflix’s achievements, describing it as a “great company” that has performed exceptionally well. He also complimented Ted Sarandos, calling him a “fantastic man” and praising his excellent work.

I heard Trump talking about Netflix potentially buying Warner Bros., and he seemed pretty cautious. He basically said Netflix already has a huge chunk of the market, and if they bought Warner Bros., that chunk would get even bigger. He thinks it’s something economists need to figure out, and he’ll be part of the decision-making process, so it’s not a simple yes or no.

Okay, so the guy basically just dropped a huge hint that this deal is going to face some serious scrutiny from regulators. He didn’t beat around the bush – he straight-up said, “There could be a problem.” As a movie buff, it felt like a classic foreshadowing moment – you just know things are about to get complicated!

For a transaction of this size—$82.7 billion—those six words matter.

Market Reaction: One Stock Up, One Down

After Donald Trump spoke out, Warner Bros. Discovery’s stock price fell 1.7% before regular trading began, suggesting investors are worried the deal might face tougher reviews from regulators than Netflix expected. Netflix’s stock, which had dropped on Friday, experienced a small increase.

Investors reacted negatively to the news. On the Polymarket prediction platform, the likelihood of Netflix completing the acquisition by the end of 2026 dropped sharply from 59% to 22%.

Wall Street clearly believes the White House matters in this one.

Netflix Says It’s Not Worried—At Least Publicly

During a discussion with analysts, Netflix’s Sarandos expressed optimism about the approval process for the deal, believing it will benefit consumers, encourage innovation, support workers and creators, and promote economic growth. He also stated that Netflix plans to collaborate closely with governments and regulators.

Netflix is trying to reassure everyone, particularly investors, that this deal will go through smoothly. However, the president’s comments suggest the ultimate decision rests with the U.S. government.

A Deal Already Surrounded by Controversy

Even before Donald Trump publicly discussed the possible Netflix acquisition of Warner Bros., there was already resistance to the deal.

Politicians from both the Democratic and Republican parties are worried about the increasing number of mergers in the entertainment business. Entertainment industry unions are also concerned that these changes could lead to job losses.

Paramount Skydance, after losing out on a deal, claimed Warner Bros. unfairly favored Netflix throughout the process. According to the New York Post, White House officials are also beginning to examine potential antitrust concerns related to the situation.

Last week, Paramount CEO David Ellison went to Washington D.C. to personally appeal to Trump administration officials. He brought his lawyers with him, including Makan Delrahim, who previously led antitrust efforts at the Department of Justice.

This is shaping up to be no ordinary merger.

Why This Matters

Netflix isn’t just trying to buy a studio. It’s trying to buy:

  • A century-old film and TV library

  • HBO and its prestige content

  • Global franchises

  • An entire production ecosystem

If approved by regulators, Netflix will be more than just the biggest streaming service – it will essentially become a major Hollywood studio with unmatched control over how content is distributed.

And that’s exactly why the president’s comments landed so loudly.

Final Thoughts

The entertainment world is facing a new situation. What used to be a normal competition between companies is now being looked at by the government. President Trump has stated the issue isn’t simply that Netflix is doing well, but whether its success gives it an unfair advantage over others.

The Trump administration’s actions regarding Netflix will probably have a lasting impact on how media operates for the next ten years.

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2025-12-08 14:58