Donald Trump Raises Concerns Over Netflix's $83 Billion Warner Bros Acquisition

US President Donald Trump has weighed in on Netflix's plan to buy Warner Bros. for nearly 83 billion dollars, calling the streaming platform's influence significant enough to warrant close scrutiny.

His remarks come as federal regulators prepare to assess one of the most consequential entertainment mergers in recent history.

Trump Signals Regulatory Involvement

Speaking on Sunday as he arrived at the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, Trump said Netflix already holds "a very large market share" and added that "it could be a problem." He confirmed he would participate in the final decision regarding the takeover, which has sparked debate across Hollywood and Washington.

Trump also praised Netflix co CEO Ted Sarandos, who recently visited the White House. According to Trump, "he's done one of the greatest jobs in the history of movies."

A Landmark Entertainment Merger in the Making

The proposed deal would see Netflix acquire Warner Bros., along with the competing streaming platform HBO Max. Warner Bros. is home to some of cinema's most celebrated classics including Casablanca and Citizen Kane and also controls modern global franchises such as Barbie.

The merger would significantly expand Netflix's library. The catalog up for acquisition includes the Harry Potter series, the Lord of the Rings films, and the full lineup of DC Studios titles featuring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman.

Assets Not Included in the Sale

If the transaction proceeds as planned, Netflix will not acquire Warner Bros. Discovery's television networks such as Discovery Channel and CNN. Those channels are expected to be spun off before any ownership transfer.

Warner Bros. Discovery put itself on the market in October after receiving several unsolicited buyout proposals. Netflix ultimately outbid Comcast and Paramount Skydance. Paramount is led by David Ellison, a prominent supporter of Trump.

Industry Braces for Regulatory Pushback

With antitrust concerns rising and Hollywood's creative community divided, the deal is likely to face rigorous examination. Netflix's potential absorption of one of the world's oldest studios could reshape global entertainment, but only if it clears the regulatory hurdles now coming into focus.