{"id":2518698,"date":"2025-12-08T10:06:02","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T15:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-says-netflix-warner-bros-merger-could-be-a-problem\/"},"modified":"2025-12-08T10:08:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T15:08:18","slug":"trump-says-netflix-warner-bros-merger-could-be-a-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-says-netflix-warner-bros-merger-could-be-a-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump says Netflix-Warner Bros. merger \u2018could be a problem\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-says-netflix-warner-bros-merger-could-be-a-problem%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2518698&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Former President Donald Trump expressed concerns about Netflix&#8217;s proposed $82 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Revelation, highlighting the important increase in market share that Netflix would gain and suggesting that the deal &#8220;could be a problem.&#8221; The merger, announced recently, includes Warner Bros.&#8217; film studio, HBO, and the HBO Max streaming service, even though Netflix and HBO Max will remain separate for now. Trump noted that the deal must go through regulatory review,and he indicated he would be involved in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/listen-elon-musk-presses-robinhood-ceo-about-gamestop-fiasco-restricted-trading\/\" title=\"LISTEN: Elon Musk Presses Robinhood CEO About GameStop Fiasco, Restricted Trading\">decision-making process<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >acquisition faces potential antitrust scrutiny<\/a>, especially from the Justice Department, though likely not from the Federal Communications Commission. Netflix won the bidding competition against companies like Paramount and Comcast. Paramount had argued the deal would likely not be approved, emphasizing Netflix&#8217;s current lack of significant antitrust enforcement and warning that this acquisition could change that. <\/p>\n<p>Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized Trump&#8217;s stated involvement, advocating for an independent Department of Justice decision. Industry groups, such as Cinema United, have also voiced concerns about the merger&#8217;s impact on movie theaters, fearing Netflix might prioritize home streaming over theatrical releases. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos has assured investors that Warner Bros.&#8217; theatrical operations would continue and grow under the acquisition.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trump says Netflix-Warner Bros. merger &lsquo;could be a problem&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2424858\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump <\/a>voiced skepticism over <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/3908424\/netflix-acquire-warner-bros-blockbuster-entertainment-deal\/\">Netflix&rsquo;s blockbuster deal<\/a> to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, which was announced last week.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s got to go through a process. We&rsquo;ll see what happens,&rdquo; Trump told reporters Sunday.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/3906048\/trump-linked-companies-family-crypto-ventures-hit-second-term\/\">Trump-linked companies and family crypto ventures take a hit in second term<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/3909429\/trump-administration-announces-audit-of-contractors-benefiting-from-disadvantaged-business-program\/\">Trump administration announces audit of contractors benefiting from &#8216;disadvantaged&#8217; business program<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/3909017\/netflix-warner-bros-deal-anti-monopoly-concerns-hostile-bid-rumors\/\">Netflix&#8217;s Warner Bros. deal sets off <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/netflixs-warner-bros-win-sets-off-anti-monopoly-concerns\/\" title=\"...s .... win sets off anti-monopoly concerns\">anti-monopoly concerns<\/a>, hostile bid rumors<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Netflix is a great company. &hellip; They have a very big market share. And when they have Warner Bros., that market share goes up a lot. So, I don&rsquo;t know. That&rsquo;s gonna be for some economists to tell,&nbsp;and I&rsquo;ll be involved in that decision, too. But it is a big market share, no question about it. Could be a problem,&rdquo; he added.<\/p>\n<p>Netflix said on Friday it would purchase Warner Bros. Discovery&rsquo;s film studio, HBO, and the streaming service HBO Max, along with decades of films and shows in the Warner Bros. Pictures archive for over $82 billion, if the deal is approved. For now, the HBO Max and Netflix streaming services will remain separate, and TV channels CNN and TNT will not be included.<\/p>\n<p>Netflix won over Warner Bros. against competitors Paramount and Comcast. David Ellison, Trump ally Larry Ellison&rsquo;s son and the head of Paramount, lost out to Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos. Paramount made the case that the deal would likely not be approved by regulators if it involved Netflix.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The simple truth is that a deal with Netflix as the buyer likely will never close &hellip; Netflix is the only remaining Big Tech company that has not faced serious global antitrust enforcement, but attempting to acquire the WBD assets will change that,&rdquo; the company&rsquo;s attorneys wrote in a letter.<\/p>\n<p>The deal will likely face scrutiny from the Justice Department&rsquo;s antitrust division, but probably not from the Federal Communications Commission, because neither company owns broadcast stations. FCC head Brendan Carr previously told the <em>Guardian<\/em> that he doubted the agency would get involved if Paramount acquired Warner Bros.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;d be very surprised if there was an FCC role at all in that type of transaction,&rdquo; Carr said, adding that he was &ldquo;not focused on the rumor mills around those transactions.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The deal will also likely require approval from the European Commission and regulators, among others.<\/p>\n<p>Sarandos met with Trump in November about the deal and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2025-12-07\/netflix-co-ceo-ted-sarandos-wooed-trump-personally-ahead-of-warner-bid\">reportedly<\/a> left feeling good that Netflix wouldn&rsquo;t face pushback from the White House. Trump told him that Warner Bros. should sell to the highest bidder, <em>Bloomberg<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2025-12-07\/netflix-co-ceo-ted-sarandos-wooed-trump-personally-ahead-of-warner-bid\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Trump confirmed his past meeting with Sarandos on Sunday. &ldquo;I met with Ted. I think he&rsquo;s fantastic. I think, in the history of Hollywood, there&rsquo;s almost nothing like what he&rsquo;s done,&rdquo; Trump said.<\/p>\n<p>The Trump administration approved the Paramount Global merger with film studio Skydance in July after Paramount paid Trump&rsquo;s presidential library $16 million over CBS News&rsquo;s allegedly deceptively edited interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris.<\/p>\n<p>Paramount also agreed to end its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs after talks with the FCC.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) expressed disagreement Sunday with Trump&rsquo;s involvement in the merger.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Donald Trump said &lsquo;he&rsquo;ll &lsquo;be involved in&rsquo; deciding if Netflix can buy Warner Bros. Is that an open invite for CEOs to curry favor with Trump in exchange for merger approvals? It should be an independent decision by the Department of Justice based on the law and facts,&rdquo; she <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenWarren\/status\/1997849490108354986\">wrote on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/3908424\/netflix-acquire-warner-bros-blockbuster-entertainment-deal\/\">NETFLIX TO ACQUIRE WARNER BROS. IN BLOCKBUSTER ENTERTAINMENT DEAL<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If the deal goes through, there&rsquo;s concern that Netflix will try to shift Warner Bros. operations to a home audience against cinemas. Sarandos told investors that it plans to maintain Warner Bros. operations and &ldquo;build on its strengths, including theatrical releases for films.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/cinemaunited.org\/2025\/12\/05\/cinema-united-opposes-proposed-acquisition-of-legendary-hollywood-studio-warner-bros\/\">Cinema United<\/a>, a trade association for cinema owners, called the merger &ldquo;an unprecedented threat to the global exhibition business.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump says Netflix-Warner Bros. merger &#8216;could be a problem<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2518699,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/djt_6b8520.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[50410,16353,5158,3634,68291],"class_list":["post-2518698","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-controversy-2","tag-merger","tag-netflix","tag-trump","tag-warner-bros-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/djt_6b8520.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2518698","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2518698"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2518698\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2518702,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2518698\/revisions\/2518702"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2518699"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2518698"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2518698"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2518698"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}