Former Obama-Biden official Susan Rice’s recent comments targeting companies working with President Donald Trump are being blamed for the failure of Netflix’s attempt to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery.
Rice, who now serves on Netflix’s board of directors, drew scrutiny after issuing a warning to corporations she accused of “taking a knee” to Trump.
Speaking on the Stay Tuned with Preet Bharara podcast last week, Rice said media companies, Big Tech firms, universities, and other institutions that align with Trump would face consequences if Democrats regain power.
“I think they’ve got another thing coming,” Rice said.
President Trump responded directly, posting:
“Netflix should fire racist, Trump Deranged Susan Rice, IMMEDIATELY, or pay the consequences.”
DOJ Meeting Raises Questions
According to New York Post columnist Charles Gasparino, Rice’s remarks likely blew the deal by complicating Netflix’s regulatory path as it pursued Warner Bros. Discovery.
Gasparino reported:
“My sources say the DOJ indicated to Sarandos it had antitrust concerns about the WBD deal despite his argument that competition from YouTube negates them.
“But Rice’s remarks didn’t make Sarandos’ job any easier, I am told by people close to the administration.
“One senior Trump regulatory official even quipped with a laugh that Sarandos should have ‘let Susan Rice tag along’ to his DOJ sitdown.
“A Netflix rep said Sarandos’ meeting was unrelated to Rice and set up two weeks ago.
“Rice could not be reached for comment.”
The report noted that Rice’s comments coincided with a White House meeting between the Department of Justice and Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos, where antitrust concerns regarding the potential acquisition were discussed.
Shortly afterward, Netflix stepped away from the bidding process, stating that the financial terms were no longer attractive after Paramount Skydance outbid the streaming giant.
Political Overhang
While Netflix has denied any connection between Rice’s comments and its regulatory discussions, the timing has fueled speculation.
The Trump administration has signaled a willingness to closely scrutinize major corporate mergers, particularly in the media and technology sectors.
Rice’s public warning to companies perceived as cooperating with Trump added a political dimension to an already complex antitrust review.
As the 2026 political landscape continues to shape corporate strategy and regulatory posture, the episode underscores how executive board members’ public remarks can intersect with high-stakes business negotiations in Washington.
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