President Donald Trump raised concerns about Netflix’s planned $72 billion deal to buy Warner Brothers Discovery’s movie studio and HBO streaming service. Speaking at an event in Washington DC on Sunday, Trump said Netflix already has a “big market share” and the size of the combined company “could be a problem.”
According to the BBC, Netflix and Warner Bros. announced the deal on Friday. If approved, it would bring major franchises like Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, The Matrix, and Lord of the Rings to Netflix. The deal still needs approval from competition authorities before it can move forward.
The agreement would create a massive media company and make Netflix even more dominant in streaming. Netflix started as a DVD rental service in 1997 and is now the world’s largest streaming platform. This $72 billion deal is the biggest the film industry has seen in years.
Trump plans to be personally involved in deciding the deal’s fate
At the John F Kennedy Center event, Trump said Netflix has a “very big market share” that would “go up by a lot” if the deal happens. He made it clear he would personally decide whether to approve the merger and kept pointing out how big Netflix’s market share already is.
Trump also praised Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, who recently visited the Oval Office. “I have a lot of respect for him. He’s a great person,” Trump said. “He’s done one of the greatest jobs in the history of movies.” The streaming giant has faced legal challenges from former stars in recent months over various disputes.
The US Justice Department oversees major mergers and could block the deal if the combined companies control too much of the streaming market. Bill Kovacic, former chair of the Federal Trade Commission, said Trump’s comments mean negotiations will “run through the White House” with an “unprecedented level of presidential control.”
Netflix beat out rivals including Comcast and Paramount Skydance to reach the agreement. Warner Brothers will split its business before completing the deal in the second half of 2026. The merger would bring several global entertainment franchises and massive film libraries under Netflix’s control. The platform has also dealt with complaints that required drastic action from production teams recently.
The Writers Guild of America called for blocking the merger. They said “the world’s largest streaming company swallowing one of its biggest competitors is what antitrust laws were designed to prevent.” The union warned it would eliminate jobs, lower wages, raise prices for consumers, and reduce the variety of content available to viewers.
Published: Dec 8, 2025 01:45 pm