Trump warns Netflix–Warner Bros. deal “could be a problem”

President Donald Trump has signalled potential government resistance to Netflix’s proposed $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros., warning that the streaming giant’s already dominant position in the market “could be a problem”.

Speaking to reporters on December 7 evening ahead of an event at the Kennedy Centre, Trump said Netflix’s market share was already substantial and would grow “a lot” if the deal is approved. “They have a very big market share,” he said. “And when they have Warner Brothers, that share goes up a lot. I’ll be involved in that decision,” Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Trump nevertheless praised Netflix co-chief executive Ted Sarandos, revealing that the pair met last week in the Oval Office. “I have a lot of respect for him… He’s done one of the greatest jobs in the history of movies and other things,” he said. “But it is a big market share, there’s no question about it. It could be a problem.”

His remarks fall short of condemning the deal outright but introduce new uncertainty around its approval, as regulators prepare to review the transaction.

On December 5, Netflix struck an agreement to acquire Warner Bros. after the entertainment company decided to split its studios and HBO Max streaming service from its cable networks. The move surprised Hollywood, where many insiders expected David Ellison’s Paramount to emerge as the favourite bidder, ahead of both Netflix and Comcast.

According to a senior administration official, several of Trump’s advisers — including White House staff — have expressed concern about the implications of the deal.

The US Justice Department is expected to investigate the transaction, with officials already assessing how the tie-up could further entrench Netflix’s position in the media market. Combined, Netflix and HBO Max would control roughly 30% of the US subscription streaming sector. Netflix has argued that regulators should consider free video platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and TikTok when defining the competitive landscape.

Paramount, which attempted to acquire all of Warner Bros. Discovery, maintains that it was the only bidder whose proposal avoided antitrust complications. Trump has long-standing ties to Paramount chief executive David Ellison and his father, tech magnate Larry Ellison — a factor that could see the White House exert pressure on antitrust authorities in Paramount’s favour.

By Vugar Khalilov