Trump threatened Netflix with ‘consequences’ over a board member, and a MAGA influencer with no official role is behind the whole thing

President Trump has demanded that Netflix remove Susan Rice from its board, threatening the streaming company with “consequences” if it does not comply. This comes as Netflix is in the middle of a high-stakes attempt to acquire Warner Bros Discovery, a deal that would need federal regulatory approval. Trump had previously suggested he would stay out of this acquisition.

According to Financial Times, the situation was set off by MAGA influencer Laura Loomer, who holds no official role in the administration but appears to have significant influence over Trump. She urged him to “kill the Netflix-Warner Bros. merger now,” and Trump then posted about it on his Truth Social platform.

Trump wrote, “Netflix should fire racist, Trump Deranged Susan Rice, IMMEDIATELY, or pay the consequences. She’s got no talent or skills, Purely a political hack!” He also added, “HER POWER IS GONE, AND WILL NEVER BE BACK. How much is she being paid, and for what???” 

Rice’s own comments appear to have sparked the pressure campaign

Susan Rice served as national security adviser and US ambassador to the UN under Barack Obama, worked on Joe Biden’s domestic policy council, and has been on Netflix’s board from 2018 to 2020 and again since 2023.

She recently appeared on a podcast and warned that it “would not end well” for companies that “take a knee to Trump” if Democrats were to regain power in Washington. She predicted that Democrats would implement an “accountability agenda,” telling companies to “preserve their documents” and “be ready for subpoenas.”

Rice stated, “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.” This kind of political tension is not unlike the high-stakes diplomatic standoffs Trump is navigating on other fronts as well.

Loomer then expanded on her reasoning in a lengthy social media post, questioning whether Netflix supports a board member who she claims is “threatening half of the country with weaponized government and political retribution.” She labeled Netflix an “anti-American, WOKE company” and suggested the Warner Bros Discovery acquisition would benefit the Obamas by filling the service with “positive messaging” for Democrats.

Netflix currently has an agreed $83 billion takeover deal with Warner Bros Discovery. However, Paramount Skydance is attempting a hostile bid, backed by Oracle founder and known Trump donor Larry Ellison, with a $108 billion offer that recently cleared a key US antitrust hurdle. Warner Bros Discovery’s board has repeatedly rejected Paramount’s approach and is sticking with Netflix’s offer.

Both deals are under scrutiny from federal regulators. Netflix’s proposed acquisition is currently going through an early-stage review by Trump’s Justice Department to determine whether it would be anti-competitive. Trump has also made headlines recently for his unusual remarks about a celebrity’s appearance, showing a pattern of unconventional public behavior.