Netflix Co-CEO Responds to Trump’s Demands Over Susan Rice
Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, has brushed aside former President Trump’s calls to remove Susan Rice from the streaming service’s board. This comes amidst Netflix’s interest in acquiring significant parts of Warner Bros. Discovery.
When questioned about Trump’s remarks, Sarandos noted, “He likes to do a lot of things on social media,” indicating a light dismissal of the president’s influence.
“This is a business deal. It’s not a political deal,” Sarandos elaborated, clarifying that the acquisition is being overseen by the U.S. Department of Justice and various global regulators.
Currently, Netflix is evaluating the potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming operations as the review phase for Paramount’s competing offer is nearing an end.
On Saturday, Trump suggested on Truth Social that the partnership between Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery could face challenges unless Rice, who has held significant roles in both the Biden and Obama administrations, is removed from Netflix’s board.
Trump’s statement labeled Rice as “a racist and deranged,” insisting that she should be terminated immediately, claiming she possesses “no talent, no skill. Pure political hacking!” His comments were in response to a tweet urging the Trump administration to halt the Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery deal.
Rice recently expressed that companies yielding to pressures from the Trump administration might face repercussions if Democrats regain power. “If they think they can play by the old rules, they might be mistaken,” she said in a podcast discussion.
In a notable December deal, Netflix agreed to buy WBD Studios and HBO Max for $72 billion, which could yield a conglomerate that includes popular franchises like “Stranger Things” and “Harry Potter.”
Warner Bros. recently indicated that it is set to continue negotiations with Paramount Skydance, a competitor, after they presented a revised offer that includes a substantial termination fee for Netflix.
This ongoing situation has brought Netflix’s timeline into focus; they’ve given WBD until late Monday to secure their cooperation with Paramount.
Despite outside pressures, Warner Bros. maintains support for its current agreement with Netflix. Sarandos remarked on their commitment to growth, noting a significant financial investment in original programming in the UK and job creation.
Sarandos criticized Paramount’s offer, suggesting it resembles previous mergers that tend to harm consumers and creators alike. He stressed that their own deal is about acquiring new assets and not just merely consolidating power.
Furthermore, Sarandos voiced concerns regarding the involvement of foreign governments in media ownership, particularly in light of the proposed sale that would see Paramount Skydance acquiring various assets, including CNN.
On the backlash from the film industry, Sarandos dismissed claims from industry figures like James Cameron who suggested the merger would be detrimental, labeling such opposition as “disingenuous.” He referenced a recent conversation with Prime Minister David Cameron discussing Netflix’s distribution plans for films, asserting that Netflix users engage with films at a much higher rate than the average American theatergoer.
