President Donald Trump has publicly called on federal regulators to halt Netflix’s planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
The President took to Truth Social earlier this week to voice his opposition to the transaction.
Trump posted a message directing authorities to “Stop the Netflix Cultural Takeover..”
His post included a link to an opinion piece raising concerns about the merger’s potential impact on the entertainment landscape.
The proposed acquisition would unite Netflix with Warner Bros. Discovery in what would represent one of the largest consolidations in media history.
Netflix currently operates as the largest streaming platform globally.
Warner Bros. Discovery controls major entertainment properties including HBO, DC Comics, Harry Potter and Game of Thrones.
The company also maintains one of the entertainment industry’s most extensive film and television libraries.
The opinion piece Trump shared suggested the combined entity would hold unprecedented cultural influence in the United States.
According to the article, the merged company would gain outsized control over which stories and narratives reach American audiences.
Questions have emerged regarding Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision-making process in selecting Netflix as its merger partner.
Reports indicate that Paramount Skydance submitted a competing all-cash offer valued at approximately $30 per share.
The opinion piece contended that the Paramount Skydance proposal would deliver superior returns to shareholders compared to Netflix’s bid.
This discrepancy has attracted attention from members of Congress.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) addressed the issue during his show, The Matt Gaetz Show.
Gaetz raised the possibility that selecting a lower offer over a higher one could potentially violate fiduciary responsibilities.
He suggested that if ideological considerations rather than shareholder value guided the decision, it could present legal concerns.
The opinion piece outlined several competitive concerns stemming from the potential merger.
It warned that combining these companies would reduce competition across multiple sectors of the entertainment industry.
The affected areas would include streaming services, theatrical distribution channels and content production operations.
According to the article, fewer major studios operating in the marketplace would restrict opportunities available to independent filmmakers.
Movie theaters, already facing significant challenges following the pandemic, would encounter additional pressure.
The merged entity would possess increased leverage in various business negotiations.
This would extend to pricing decisions, labor contract discussions and determinations about release timing for content.
The concerns raised reflect broader debates about consolidation in the media and technology sectors.
Federal regulators would need to review the transaction under antitrust laws before any deal could proceed.
