Donald Trump has officially weighed in on Hollywood’s biggest business bombshell — Netflix’s proposed $82.7 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. — and he didn’t mince words.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday’s Kennedy Center Honors in Washington D.C., the President confirmed his recent meeting with Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, and praised the streaming giant’s success while voicing concern about the company’s growing dominance.
“Netflix is a great company. They’ve done a phenomenal job. Ted’s a fantastic man — I have a lot of respect for him,” Trump said. “But it’s a lot of market share, so we’ll have to see what happens.”
When pressed on whether Netflix should be allowed to acquire Warner Bros., Trump kept it diplomatic but hinted at possible regulatory hurdles: “That’s the question. They already have a very big market share, and with Warner Bros., that share would increase significantly. It could be a problem.”
Trump also confirmed The Hollywood Reporter’s scoop that Sarandos recently visited the Oval Office, but denied any promises or inside discussions about the merger. “He visited last week,” Trump clarified. “He’s achieved one of the greatest successes in entertainment history. But there’s no question—this deal would create a huge player. Maybe too huge.”
The Netflix–Warner Bros. proposal, announced Friday, would be one of the biggest mergers in entertainment history. The $82.7 billion deal includes a $5.8 billion breakup fee and vows to maintain Warner Bros.’ existing operations—including theatrical releases.
Netflix’s Sarandos defended the move in a call with Wall Street analysts: “We’ve always been builders, not buyers. But this is a unique opportunity to bring audiences together through storytelling.”
Sarandos emphasized Netflix’s evolution from a mail-order DVD company to a global streaming powerhouse, saying, “In today’s world, where people have more entertainment choices than ever, we can’t afford to stand still.”
Still, Hollywood isn’t cheering just yet. Cinema United, a major theater coalition, called the merger “an unprecedented threat to global exhibition,” while the Directors Guild of America warned of “significant concerns” about creative independence and competition.
Whether the government greenlights or blocks the deal, one thing’s clear: this Netflix–Warner Bros. saga just became a political and entertainment juggernaut—with Donald Trump now in the mix.
