Trump Says He Will Leave Netflix–Warner Bros. Fight to the Justice Department
The president is deferring the Warner Bros. Discovery dispute to career antitrust enforcers at the Justice Department.
Overview
- Trump told NBC News’ Tom Llamas he will not get involved in the competing bids for Warner Bros. Discovery, reversing earlier remarks that he might weigh in.
- The Justice Department is reviewing the proposed transactions for antitrust compliance, and the Federal Trade Commission also has authority over competition issues.
- Netflix previously announced an approximately $82–83 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, including HBO and HBO Max.
- Paramount Skydance mounted a hostile offer valued at about $108.7 billion, Warner Bros. Discovery favored Netflix’s proposal, and Paramount Skydance sued to obtain details on that decision.
- Netflix later amended its offer to an all-cash bid as Ted Sarandos defended the merger at a Senate hearing where lawmakers pressed on pricing, content diversity, and market concentration.