Donald Trump to halt Netflix, Warner Bros. deal? Remarks spark debate

Netflix announced upcoming acquisition of Warner Bros. studio and HBO assets which also includes its streaming service.

After the $82.7 billion deal went viral, questions were raised on the suspected reduction in the competition of streaming services and possible increase in subscription prices.

Although David Zaslav presumably preferred Ted Sarandos due to his closer association with the president, it seems that Donald Trump would intervene to halt the deal from realising.

President Trump was asked about the ongoing monopoly as he and his wife Melania were stopped at the 48th annual Kennedy Center Honors event for a red-carpet interview.

While praising Sarandos for making history in Hollywood, the 79-year-old noted that “they have a very big market share” and so it “could be a problem.”

The politician revealed that the Netflix CEO paid a visit to the Oval office but did not “make any guarantee” in case of a merger.

These remarks were seemingly unprecedented for the netizens as one critic pointed out on X that Sarandos’s meetings with Trump did not do “the job for this deal. 

They added: "He can indirectly veto this deal if he really wants to.”

A fan was of the opinion that it “sounds like a no,” while another believes the comments are “signalling strict antitrust review.”

What did Netflix say in letter to fans?

This came after the streaming giant wrote a letter to their streamers, ensuring that “nothing is changing today” as the two companies will “operate separately.”

They also highlighted that there are “more steps before the deal is closed.”

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