WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Sunday that Netflix’s bid to acquire Warner Bros “could be a problem,” signaling he intends to weigh in on a potential $83 billion deal that has already stirred antitrust alarm across Hollywood.
“I’ll be involved in that decision,” Trump told reporters as he arrived at the Kennedy Center Honors. He added that Netflix already has “a very large market share,” language likely to reverberate as federal regulators consider whether the proposed acquisition would give the streaming leader outsized power in entertainment.
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Trump also praised Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, who recently visited the White House, calling him someone who has “done one of the greatest jobs in the history of movies.” The compliment underscored the unusual optics of a sitting president lauding a top executive in a company pursuing a blockbuster takeover that may require government approval.
If approved in its current form, the deal would fold HBO Max and storied studio Warner Bros into Netflix, marrying a dominant streaming platform with one of Hollywood’s most historic content engines. Warner Bros’ library spans film classics such as “Casablanca” and “Citizen Kane” and recent box-office draws including “Barbie.” The catalogue also includes the “Harry Potter” films, “The Lord of the Rings” saga and DC Studios’ superhero franchises — Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman among them.
Notably, the transaction as contemplated would not include several linear television properties. Discovery and CNN would be spun off ahead of a sale, according to people familiar with the structure, leaving Netflix with the studio and streaming assets rather than a full suite of cable channels.
Parent company Warner Bros Discovery put itself up for sale in October after receiving multiple unsolicited approaches, positioning Netflix ahead of other interested parties. Cable operator Comcast and media group Paramount Skydance were among those circling, according to people familiar with the matter, but the process shifted toward Netflix following the outreach, intensifying scrutiny from competitors and creative talent wary of further consolidation.
Trump’s public suggestion that he will be “involved” adds a political layer to a merger already under the antitrust microscope. While federal merger reviews are conducted by regulators, the president’s comments could add pressure around market concentration, pricing power and the fate of rival streamers if Netflix absorbs HBO Max and Warner Bros’ production pipeline.
The consolidation would give Netflix a commanding position in premium scripted entertainment at a time when legacy studios have been cutting costs and narrowing theatrical slates. It would also concentrate valuable intellectual property — from Hogwarts to Gotham City — under a single streaming roof, an outcome that has rattled parts of Hollywood talent and guild circles wary of fewer buyers and diminished leverage.
The political crosscurrents are also in view. David Ellison, the Paramount chief who has been active in recent media dealmaking, is a major backer of the president. Trump’s remarks are likely to draw close attention from media rivals, lawmakers and advocates who have urged stricter review of megadeals in technology and entertainment.
Federal regulators have not publicly detailed next steps, and neither Netflix nor Warner Bros Discovery immediately commented on the president’s remarks. Any review would be expected to examine the combined entity’s share of premium streaming, effects on content licensing and production markets, and potential remedies, particularly given the carve-out of cable news and lifestyle networks.
For now, Trump’s assessment — “it could be a problem” — captures the stakes. A green light would reshape Hollywood’s competitive map around one dominant platform and an unrivaled library. A challenge would signal a hard line on consolidation, setting the tone for dealmaking across the media and tech landscape.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
