President Donald Trump is escalating his rhetoric against Netflix, demanding the streaming giant remove board member Susan Rice or “pay the consequences” — a warning that lands as the company seeks regulatory approval for a proposed $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
In a Saturday night Truth Social post, Trump sharply criticized Rice, calling her a “purely a political hack” and declaring that her influence was finished. His remarks followed comments Rice made during a recent podcast appearance, where she suggested that corporations, law firms, and media organizations that “bent the knee” to Trump could face accountability if Democrats regain power.
“It is not going to end well,” Rice told former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. She warned that companies that aligned themselves too closely with Trump may face backlash from future Democratic leadership. “If these corporations think that Democrats, when they come back in power, are going to play by the old rules… I think they’ve got another thing coming,” she said.
Trump’s response was swift and personal. His post included a screenshot from far-right activist Laura Loomer, who labeled Rice’s remarks “anti-American” and urged Trump to block Netflix’s pending acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Loomer also tagged Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr.
Rice, who served in senior foreign policy roles under President Barack Obama and later as domestic policy chief under President Joe Biden, previously sat on Netflix’s board from 2018 to 2021 and rejoined in 2023 after leaving the Biden administration.
The political flare-up comes at a sensitive moment for Netflix. The Department of Justice is reviewing its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal that would exclude WBD’s cable networks, including CNN. Regulators are reportedly examining whether the merger would reduce competition or harm creative talent markets. The DOJ has also explored whether Netflix engages in anticompetitive practices in negotiations with independent content creators.
Trump told NBC News earlier this month that the DOJ would “handle” the review process, signaling that he would not directly intervene — a shift from earlier comments suggesting he might take a more active role.
Netflix executives have downplayed the political controversy. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos told the BBC, “This is a business deal, it’s not a political deal,” adding that Trump “likes to do a lot of things on social media.” Chief Legal Officer David Hyman stated that Netflix operates in an “extremely competitive market” and denied any monopolistic behavior.
Meanwhile, Paramount Skydance has launched a competing hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, offering shareholders $30 per share in cash — further complicating the regulatory and corporate landscape.
