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BumRushDaShow

(165,177 posts) Mon Dec 8, 2025, 08:00 AM Dec 8

President Trump says Netflix-Warner Bros. deal 'could be a problem'

Source: USA Today

Dec. 7, 2025, 8:41 p.m. ET

President Donald Trump weighed in on Netflix's proposed $72 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, saying he would be involved in the review and that the combined entity's market share "could be a problem."

On Dec. 7, Trump told reporters as he arrived at the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C., that he had met with Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos. The president did not say whether he favored approval for the deal, but praised Sarandos and noted that Netflix has a "very big market share."

"And when they have Warner Brothers... that share goes up a lot," Trump said. "That's going to be for some economists to tell... But it is a big market share. There's no question it could be a problem."

Netflix announced on Dec. 5 that it agreed to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's TV and film studios and streaming division for $72 billion, a deal that would give the streaming pioneer control of one of Hollywood's most prized and oldest assets. The agreement follows a weekslong bidding war in which Netflix seized the lead with an almost $28-a-share offer that eclipsed Paramount Skydance's nearly $24 bid for the whole of Warner Bros. Discovery, including the cable TV assets slated for a spinoff.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/12/07/donald-trump-netflix-warner-bros-deal-review/87662481007/

This is a "pick your poison" scenario because no matter which bidder won, ownership would still consolidate media assets, as the other bidders already had "broadcast" and "streaming" services in their portfolios, and all owned film/TV studios, with many decades' worth of programs (radio/film/television) in their catalogs.

Netflix didn't come into this "opportunity" as a "legacy broadcast media" entity (i.e., OTA and/or cable and/or satellite). I know many remember the days of Netflix being a "mail-order DVD rental" company (like Comcast started as a small cable-wiring company with limited program offerings and services, and now owns NBC and Universal Studios).

Netflix managed to gain a lot of their recent $$$ (and accolades) by creating their own "studios" and production (like Amazon).

18 replies

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Highlight:

President Trump says Netflix-Warner Bros. deal 'could be a problem' (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Dec 8 OP

? twodogsbarking Dec 8 #1

This is TSF saying "I need to wet my beak" johnnyfins Dec 8 #2

If any merger/aquistion is big and public... NCDem47 Dec 8 #3

"What's in this for ME?" durablend Dec 8 #6

... BumRushDaShow Dec 8 #7

Yep. Exactly. Scrivener7 Dec 8 #8

Exactly... "what's in it for me?" QueerDuck Dec 8 #12

Netflix should know "because of Biden" things cost more now. JohnnyRingo Dec 8 #4

Trump doesn't miss a shakedown. C_U_L8R Dec 8 #5

LOL...several people on DU CALLED THIS days ago. Go look for the posts! Bengus81 Dec 8 #9

He will tank the deal angrychair Dec 8 #10

A small nit -- It's Paramount "Skydance," not Paramount Sundance onenote Dec 8 #13

No, good catch angrychair Dec 8 #14

Trump will find something to them sue for, tacitly threatening to "review the deal" if they don't settle for million$, sop Dec 8 #11

There's a new wrinkle in this story now - BumRushDaShow Dec 8 #15

Oh Brother. Donald Trump knows about "Deals" or "Economics" as much as my dog knows Advance Quantum Mechanics. chouchou Dec 8 #16

Ya gotta kick up to the boss Prairie Gates Dec 8 #17

The extortion demand.nt moniss Dec 8 #18

twodogsbarking

(17,490 posts)

1. ?

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Mon Dec 8, 2025, 08:14 AM

Dec 8

johnnyfins

(3,388 posts)

2. This is TSF saying "I need to wet my beak"

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Mon Dec 8, 2025, 08:18 AM

Dec 8

NCDem47

(3,316 posts)

3. If any merger/aquistion is big and public...

Reply to johnnyfins (Reply #2)

Mon Dec 8, 2025, 08:30 AM

Dec 8

That asshole will want his cut. And if its anything media related, he'll extract concessions to boost propaganda.

Just so sick of this bullshit.

For the love of GOD, let Dems take the House in the midterms to shine massive light on this corruption.

durablend

(8,880 posts)

6. "What's in this for ME?"

Reply to johnnyfins (Reply #2)

Mon Dec 8, 2025, 08:45 AM

Dec 8

"Be a shame if this merger doesn't happen"

BumRushDaShow

(165,177 posts)

7. ...

Reply to johnnyfins (Reply #2)

Mon Dec 8, 2025, 08:46 AM

Dec 8

(glad I wasn't drinking my tea when I read this

)

Scrivener7

(58,151 posts)

8. Yep. Exactly.

Reply to johnnyfins (Reply #2)

Mon Dec 8, 2025, 08:46 AM

Dec 8

QueerDuck

(885 posts)

12. Exactly... "what's in it for me?"

Reply to johnnyfins (Reply #2)

Mon Dec 8, 2025, 09:08 AM

Dec 8

He wants money, or someone fired.

JohnnyRingo

(20,422 posts)

4. Netflix should know "because of Biden" things cost more now.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Mon Dec 8, 2025, 08:33 AM

Dec 8

Even bribes. I mean if Netflix can sink $84b into a merger they can throw some to their favorite president.

C_U_L8R

(48,795 posts)

5. Trump doesn't miss a shakedown.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Mon Dec 8, 2025, 08:40 AM

Dec 8

He’s a one-man crime wave

Bengus81

(9,758 posts)

9. LOL...several people on DU CALLED THIS days ago. Go look for the posts!

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Mon Dec 8, 2025, 08:53 AM

Dec 8

Better start really greasing some palms Netflix,be a shame if suddenly don't you get what you want!

angrychair

(11,639 posts)

10. He will tank the deal

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Mon Dec 8, 2025, 09:03 AM

Dec 8

Because the Ellisons, owners of Paramount Skydance, are part of his billionaire buddies club that is grifting America and Netflix's Ted Sarandos is not.

Honestly, in the three way bidding war between Paramount Skydance, Netflix and Comcast, my unambiguous choice is Netflix because they are the only company not run by rightwing extremists.
Sarandos has actually stood up to Mango Mussolini and refused to curb its DEI and given support to Democratic talking points.

onenote

(45,965 posts)

13. A small nit -- It's Paramount "Skydance," not Paramount Sundance

Reply to angrychair (Reply #10)

Mon Dec 8, 2025, 09:13 AM

Dec 8

Don't want anyone thinking Ellison has his hands on a piece of Redford's legacy.

angrychair

(11,639 posts)

14. No, good catch

Reply to onenote (Reply #13)

Mon Dec 8, 2025, 09:21 AM

Dec 8

Interact with DU almost exclusively on my phone and it's auto suggesting is poor at times. I must have typed it in like that at one point and now it just autosuggest it and I picked it.

Thanks for the catch!

sop

(17,289 posts)

11. Trump will find something to them sue for, tacitly threatening to "review the deal" if they don't settle for million$,

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Mon Dec 8, 2025, 09:07 AM

Dec 8

they'll knuckle under and pay up, the settlement money will go directly to Trump, no laws will be broken, then the deal will be approved by the appropriate governmental agency. Trump has perfected the art of the legal shakedown.