Key Points:
- President Trump told Netflix to fire board member Susan Rice immediately.
- Rice warned that Democrats will punish companies that support the president.
- Trump threatened the streaming giant with consequences if it ignores him.
- The fight happens as Netflix tries to buy Warner Bros. Discovery.
President Donald Trump issued a strict warning to Netflix late Saturday. He demanded that the company fire board member Susan Rice or face serious consequences. The president used his Truth Social platform to attack the former government official, turning a corporate board seat into a major political fight.
The dispute started after Rice spoke on a podcast last week. She warned that companies and law firms supporting Trump will regret their actions. Rice stated that Democrats will demand corporate accountability if they win back power in the upcoming November elections. She made it clear that her party will not forgive businesses that break rules just to please the president.
Trump fired back quickly. He called Rice a political hack who lacks talent and skills. He also claimed her power is gone and will never return. Netflix has not yet responded to his comments.
This public fight comes at a bad time for Netflix. The streaming company desperately wants to buy Warner Bros. Discovery in a massive deal worth 72 billion dollars. However, the Justice Department is heavily scrutinizing the purchase. Investigators want to ensure the merger does not destroy market competition or hurt independent creators.
The president’s threat complicates the situation. Earlier this month, Trump promised he would let the Justice Department handle the review without his interference. Now, his direct ultimatum to Netflix shows he is willing to apply heavy pressure on the company.
Netflix faces pressure from competitors as well. Paramount Skydance recently launched a rival cash offer to buy all of Warner Bros. Discovery. Despite these challenges, Netflix executives remain confident that the government will approve their deal because it helps consumers. However, they now have to navigate a direct attack from the White House while trying to close the biggest deal in their history.
