Trump Demands Netflix Remove Former Obama Official Susan Rice From Board Amid WBD Takeover Battle

US President Donald Trump has called on Netflix to remove former Obama administration national security adviser Susan Rice from its board, escalating political tensions as the streaming giant pursues an $83 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery (WBD).

In a post on his Truth Social platform Saturday, Trump said Netflix should “fire racist, Trump-deranged Susan Rice IMMEDIATELY, or pay the consequences,” accusing her of being a “political hack.” His remarks followed pressure from conservative activist Laura Loomer, who urged him to block the proposed merger.

Rice also warned on a recent podcast that companies aligning themselves too closely with Trump could face scrutiny if Democrats return to power. “If Democrats come back, it’s not forgive and forget. There will be accountability. It’s not going to end well for them,” she said.

She suggested future Democratic leadership would pursue an “accountability agenda” and advised corporations to preserve records in anticipation of potential investigations.

Rice, who served as US ambassador to the United Nations and national security adviser under former president Barack Obama, first joined Netflix’s board in 2018, departed in 2020, and was reappointed in 2023.

Trump had previously indicated he would stay out of the competition between Netflix and a rival bid led by Paramount Skydance, but his latest comments signal renewed involvement. Any deal for WBD would require approval from federal regulators, giving the administration significant influence over the outcome.

Loomer, who holds no official government role but has been influential in Trump’s political orbit, accused Netflix of tolerating threats of “political retribution” and labeled the company “anti-American” and “woke.” She also claimed a merger with WBD could benefit former president Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama by amplifying pro-Democratic content—an assertion for which no evidence was provided.

Netflix did not immediately comment on Trump’s demands.

Meanwhile, WBD has reopened negotiations with Paramount Skydance, giving the company until Monday to submit a “best and final” offer to rival Netflix’s agreed $83 billion deal. Paramount, backed by billionaire Oracle founder Larry Ellison—a Trump donor—has launched a hostile bid and recently cleared a key antitrust review by the US Department of Justice.

WBD controls major entertainment assets including the Harry Potter franchise, Friends, HBO Max, Game of Thrones, and The White Lotus, making it one of the most coveted prizes in global media.

Regulatory scrutiny is expected to intensify in the coming months as both competing bids undergo antitrust review, with political pressure adding a new layer of uncertainty to one of the largest proposed media mergers in history.