Trump presses Netflix to fire Susan Rice as Warner Bros. bid unfolds

Former President Donald Trump has publicly pressured Netflix to remove board member Susan Rice, warning the company it will face unspecified "consequences" if it does not comply, according to multiple news sources including Fortune and Guardian World. This demand comes as Netflix competes with Paramount Skydance in a bidding war to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery.

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos responded to Trump’s calls by downplaying the threat during interviews with BBC Today and public statements reported by Hollywood Reporter and Deadline. Sarandos characterized Trump’s demand as a social media tactic rather than a serious business or governance issue, affirming that the situation does not indicate a political deal influencing Netflix’s board decisions.

Susan Rice, a former Obama national security adviser, rejoined Netflix’s board in 2023 and recently stated that corporations supporting Trump could be held accountable when Democrats regain power, which appears to have triggered Trump’s response, as noted by Salon and TechCrunch. Trump framed Rice’s presence on Netflix’s board as evidence of Democratic influence, warning Netflix to sever those ties amid its large-scale acquisition effort.

This dispute highlights the intersection of media industry consolidation and political influence, with Trump’s warnings emphasizing potential regulatory challenges or backlash if Netflix maintains board members linked to Democratic leadership, according to Zero Hedge and The Verge. Netflix has yet to issue a public response addressing the political pressure or how it might impact the Warner Bros. Discovery deal.

Observers will be watching how Netflix navigates this politically charged environment while finalizing its bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, with Paramount’s deadline looming. The situation underscores increasing scrutiny on corporate governance choices in large media transactions and their possible political ramifications.