US President Donald Trump on Sunday weighed in on Netflix’s bid to buy the legendary Hollywood studio Warner Bros., signalling both caution and admiration as the proposed $83 billion deal continues to stir controversy across the entertainment industry.
Speaking to reporters as he arrived for the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, Trump said the streaming giant already commands “a very large market share,” adding that the acquisition “could be a problem” for regulators assessing its impact on competition.
He made it clear that he intends to play a role in the outcome, remarking, “I’ll be involved in that decision”.
At the same time, Trump offered glowing praise for Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, who recently visited the White House.
Trump described Sarandos
as someone who has “done one of the greatest jobs in the history of movies,” signalling a warm relationship with the executive even as he suggests the proposed merger faces potential hurdles.
If approved as currently structured, Netflix would take over not only the Warner Bros. film studio but also its streaming service, HBO Max.
The acquisition would hand Netflix control of one of Hollywood’s richest content libraries, spanning decades of iconic cinema, from classics like Casablanca and Citizen Kane to modern blockbusters such as Barbie.
It would also fold in some of the most lucrative franchises in global entertainment, including the Harry Potter films, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and the DC superhero universe featuring Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.
Such consolidation would dramatically expand Netflix’s catalogue and influence, intensifying concerns from competitors and industry insiders about reduced choice and market imbalance.
However, not everything under the Warner Bros. Discovery umbrella would come with the deal.
Channels such as Discovery and CNN are expected to be spun off before the sale, leaving Netflix with the studio and streaming operations but not the cable networks. Warner Bros.
Discovery formally put itself up for sale in October after receiving a wave of unsolicited interest.
Netflix ultimately emerged as the leading bidder, surpassing Comcast and the combined Paramount–Skydance group, even though Paramount’s chief, David Ellison, is known to be a strong Trump ally.
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