President Donald Trump has weighed in on Netflix’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, demanding the streaming giant remove former U.S. Ambassador and national security advisor Susan Rice from its board of directors. The demand came in a Saturday post on Truth Social, amplifying criticism leveled against Rice following her recent comments on corporate accountability.
Trump called for Netflix to “immediately terminate” Rice’s position, warning of unspecified “consequences” if the company fails to comply. The former president’s post echoed concerns raised by right-wing activist Laura Loomer, who had previously called for action against Rice.
Rice’s comments, made Thursday on the “Stay Tuned with Preet” podcast, centered on the potential for a Democratic administration to hold corporations accountable for actions taken during the Trump presidency. She predicted an “accountability agenda” for companies that she suggested had compromised their principles to align with the previous administration.
The intervention from Trump adds another layer of complexity to Netflix’s already scrutinized $83 billion bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. The deal is currently under review by the Department of Justice’s antitrust division, raising questions about potential market dominance.
Trump had previously stated he would remain neutral in the deal, deferring to the Justice Department to investigate. However, his latest comments signal a renewed interest in the proceedings. In December, he expressed concerns about Netflix’s “very big market share” and the potential for anti-competitive practices.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos recently indicated that Trump had not sought any political concessions during discussions about the potential merger, but had focused on the prospect of bringing jobs back to Hollywood.
Representatives for Netflix and Rice did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.
