Netflix’s potential acquisition of the legendary Hollywood studio Warner Bros. has drawn the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump, who on Sunday warned that the streaming giant already holds “a very large market share,” adding that “it could be a problem.”
Speaking as he arrived at the Kennedy Center Honors, Trump said he expects to play a direct role in the federal government’s review of the nearly $83 billion deal, which has sparked antitrust concerns and stirred anxiety across Hollywood. “I’ll be involved in that decision,” he said.
Despite the warning, Trump also praised Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos—who recently visited the White House—calling him “one of the greatest” executives in modern film history.
If approved, the acquisition would fold Warner Bros. Studios and the HBO Max streaming service into Netflix, giving the platform access to an enormous library of classics like Casablanca and Citizen Kane, as well as modern hits including Barbie. Netflix would also gain rights to major franchises such as Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and DC’s lineup of superheroes including Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.
However, the deal would exclude certain television assets. Channels such as CNN and Discovery would be spun off before any sale is finalized.
Warner Bros. Discovery officially put itself on the market in October after fielding multiple unsolicited offers. Netflix ultimately outpaced competitors including Comcast and Paramount Global–Skydance, the latter led by David Ellison, a prominent Trump supporter.
