President Donald Trump expressed his intention to act according to what he considered ethically and economically sound in the escalating corporate confrontation among Netflix, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD)—a struggle many have described as a full-scale media war. His comments underscored not only the political weight such high-stakes mergers carry but also the delicate balance between market dominance and fair competition in a rapidly converging entertainment industry.
The catalyst for this conflict came on Friday, when Netflix publicly announced its plan to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for a reported $72 billion. This bold move followed WBD’s rejection of previous offers from Paramount’s Skydance unit, signaling its decision to proceed with the more attractive Netflix deal. However, the situation intensified dramatically by Monday, when Paramount retaliated with a hostile takeover attempt—proposing to purchase all WBD shares at $30 per share. The move effectively transformed a tense negotiation into an industry-defining battle for ownership and influence.
When questioned by journalists on Monday regarding this competition for control over WBD, President Trump responded with characteristic candor. He emphasized that he was well acquainted with the major players involved, stating that he understood both their strategies and their motivations. Yet, he also cautioned that before forming any definitive position, he would need to evaluate the comparative market shares of each corporation. During a White House roundtable, he elaborated further, noting that it was essential to determine the extent of Netflix’s dominance within the streaming market, as well as the relative influence held by Paramount. With a moment of self-reflection, he added that none of these companies were particularly close allies of his, implying a degree of impartiality in his forthcoming decisions.
Trump reiterated his overarching stance with a tone of moral seriousness, asserting, “I want to do what’s right.” This phrase, repeated with emphasis, appeared to encapsulate his commitment to acting in a manner consistent with fairness, market stability, and public interest. He stressed that acting rightly was not merely desirable but crucial—a principle of governance that, in his view, outweighed partisan or personal loyalties.
Just one day earlier, on Sunday, the President had indicated that he planned to play a direct role in evaluating and possibly influencing the sale of Warner Bros. Discovery. He acknowledged that a merger between Netflix and WBD, while potentially transformative for the entertainment landscape, might also create regulatory challenges. According to him, the combined market share resulting from such a union could present antitrust concerns, or, as he put it, “could be a problem.” Yet amid these cautions, Trump offered words of praise for Netflix’s Chief Executive Officer, Ted Sarandos, describing him as a “great person” who had accomplished “one of the greatest jobs in the history of movies.” This compliment suggested an appreciation for innovation and leadership, even as he considered the broader implications of the deal.
Trump’s participation in this evolving saga carries substantial weight. As the sitting President, he possesses the authority to intervene in or halt major corporate mergers that might threaten competition or concentrate too much power within a single market entity. Observers recalled that in 2017 he had publicly opposed AT&T’s proposed acquisition of Time Warner, further illustrating a historical precedent for his willingness to challenge large-scale consolidations within the media and telecommunications sectors.
Business Insider’s media and technology analyst, Peter Kafka, recently wrote that any attempt to secure regulatory approval for a WBD acquisition would ultimately depend on presidential consent. In other words, by 2025, such approval would be effectively synonymous with Trump’s own signature. This observation underscored the convergence between governmental authority and corporate ambition—two forces shaping the very core of the entertainment marketplace.
Meanwhile, Paramount has shown no sign of retreating from the contest. Behind the scenes, its Chief Executive Officer, David Ellison, sought to reassure his workforce and stakeholders of the company’s long-term vision. In an internal memo circulated on Monday, which was later reviewed by Business Insider, Ellison highlighted the strategic and creative advantages he believed would arise from a merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. He emphasized that merging the two entities would not only fortify their competitive positions but also enhance the broader entertainment ecosystem, fostering stronger storytelling capacity, technological innovation, and cross-platform collaboration. “We believe,” Ellison wrote, “that the combination of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery represents an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen both companies and, by extension, the entertainment industry as a whole.”
Together, these developments illustrate the magnitude of the struggle reshaping the media landscape. Trump’s measured but consequential involvement, the massive financial stakes of the competing bids, and the visionary rhetoric of studio executives all point to an industry standing at a crossroads—where questions of integrity, dominance, and innovation will determine not only who prevails in the current battle but also what the future of global entertainment will look like.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-warner-bros-netflix-paramount-do-whats-right-2025-12
