Netflix co-CEO: 'This is a business deal, not a political deal'

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos responded to President Trump's call to remove Susan Rice from the company's board, saying the proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. "This is a business deal. It's not a political deal," and noting the transaction is being overseen by the Department of Justice and regulators in Europe and around the world.

Trump posted on Truth Social urging Netflix to fire Rice after she warned on a podcast that corporations that "take a knee to Trump" could face retribution from a future Democratic administration. When asked by the BBC how big a deal it was for the president to weigh in on Rice, Sarandos said, "He likes to do a lot of things on social media." The comments come as Netflix competes with Paramount to buy Warner Bros., a deal that would require approval from the Department of Justice's antitrust division.

Sarandos said his pitch for the bid is "growth in the economy," describing Netflix's offer as a "vertical merger" that would add to the market. Netflix is seeking Warner Bros.

United States

netflix, ted sarandos, susan rice, warner bros, acquisition, doj, antitrust, paramount, truth social, podcast