President Donald Trump questioned the future of media consolidation and market dominance Sunday night (December 7) as he addressed Netflix’s $82.7 billion plan to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery.
Donald Trump warned that the deal “could be a problem” due to the massive market share it would create. Speaking from the red carpet at the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C., Trump said he intends to personally review the merger, which would hand Netflix control of Warner Bros.’ film and TV divisions, HBO, and HBO Max. The Netflix deal, announced Friday, would reshape the streaming landscape by combining two major entertainment giants. But before the transaction can be finalized, it must pass a rigorous antitrust review by the U.S. Department of Justice. The merger is expected to close after Warner Bros. Discovery splits its Streaming & Studios and Global Networks divisions into separate publicly traded entities, a move projected for the third quarter of 2026.