Trump is calling on Netflix to fire board member Susan Rice, escalating tensions as its $83B Warner Bros. deal nears vote.
As Netflix prepares for one of the biggest media mergers in years, President Donald Trump is turning up the heat.
On Saturday, Trump took to Truth Social to demand that the streaming giant “immediately” fire board member Susan Rice, calling her “racist” and a “political hack.” He warned Netflix to “pay the consequences” if it fails to act.
Rice, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and national security adviser, joined Netflix’s board in 2018. Trump’s latest criticism follows comments she made on the podcast Stay Tuned with Preet, hosted by former federal prosecutor Preet Bharara.
During the interview, Rice suggested that if Democrats regain power in upcoming midterm elections, corporations that avoided regulations under Trump’s administration could face renewed scrutiny.
“If these corporations think that the Democrats… are going to play by the old rules,” she said, “I think they’ve got another thing coming.”
Trump responded forcefully online, questioning Rice’s qualifications and compensation. He also shared a post from activist Laura Loomer, who claimed Rice’s remarks amounted to political threats.
The comments come at a critical moment for Netflix. The company is in the final stages of acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery in a reported $83 billion transaction.
If approved, the deal would combine Netflix with major entertainment assets, including HBO Max and Warner Bros. studios.
The merger still faces regulatory review and a shareholder vote scheduled for March 20. A seven-day deliberation window has also allowed another bidder, Paramount Skydance, to present a final offer.
Earlier this month, Trump told NBC News he believed he “shouldn’t be involved” in the proposed merger and that the Justice Department would handle any concerns.
His latest statements, however, suggest a renewed public interest in the deal — and in Rice’s role at the company.
Netflix has not publicly responded to Trump’s remarks.
As the corporate vote approaches, the situation highlights how business decisions in Hollywood can quickly become entangled in Washington politics — especially when high-profile names are involved.
