Trump
U.S. President Donald J. Trump warned Sunday that the planned $72 billion acquisition of Netflix by Warner Bros. Discovery — which would bring the famed movie studio and HBO streaming networks under Netflix’s umbrella — “could be a problem.” The Washington Post+2Forbes+2
Speaking on the red carpet before the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, Trump said Netflix already has a “very big market share,” and added that combining it with Warner Bros. would “raise that share a lot.” The Washington Post+2mint+2
Trump confirmed he recently met with Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, whom he called “a fantastic man,” though the CEO offered no public guarantees about the merger’s outcome. The Washington Post+2Forbes+2
He said the deal will “have to go through a process” and that he would be personally involved in deciding whether the government should approve it — signaling potential regulatory or antitrust scrutiny. mint+2Fox Business+2
If approved, the merger would combine one of the world’s largest streaming platforms with a major studio and content library, including franchises and TV networks — a shift that could reshape the entertainment industry. The Washington Post+2Indiatimes+2