Donald Trump sounds alarm on Netflix-Warner Bros merger — ‘This could be a problem!’

Speaking at the Kennedy Center Honors Awards Ceremony on Sunday, Trump said, “I'll be involved in that decision.”

In one of the largest entertainment mergers in history, Netflix and WBD announced a definitive agreement on Friday under which Netflix will acquire Warner Bros., including its film and television studios as well as HBO and HBO Max.

The cash-and-stock transaction values WBD at $27.75 per share, with a total enterprise value of approximately $82.7 billion and an equity value of $72 billion. The merger is expected to close after the planned separation of WBD’s Global Networks division, Discovery Global, into a new publicly traded company in the third quarter of 2026.

The acquisition would bring together two entertainment powerhouses—Netflix’s global streaming dominance and Warner Bros.’ century-long legacy of storytelling.

If approved, the merger will unite iconic franchises including The Big Bang Theory, The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, The Wizard of Oz, and the DC Universe with Netflix originals like Wednesday, Money Heist, Bridgerton, Squid Game, and Extraction.

Hollywood Opposition

The deal has faced strong opposition from Hollywood writers, producers, directors, unions, and theatre owners.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) warned that the merger could eliminate jobs, push down wages, worsen working conditions, raise prices for consumers, and reduce the diversity of content.

“The world’s largest streaming company swallowing one of its biggest competitors is what antitrust laws were designed to prevent,” the guild said.

Industry insiders argue that consolidation could give a few powerful companies excessive control over what audiences watch on television, streaming platforms, and in theaters, potentially impacting both consumers and entertainment workers.