U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he expects to play a role in deciding whether the proposed $72 billion merger between Netflix and Warner Bros Discovery should proceed, citing potential concerns over market concentration in the entertainment industry.
Speaking to reporters as he arrived at the Kennedy Center for its annual awards ceremony, Trump said the size and influence of a combined Netflix–Warner Bros entity would require close scrutiny. “I’ll be involved in that decision,” he said.
Netflix announced on Friday that it had reached an agreement to acquire Warner Bros Discovery’s television, film studio and streaming businesses. The deal, one of the largest media acquisitions in recent years, would give the streaming giant control over a historic Hollywood studio and a vast catalogue of content.
Trump did not explicitly state whether he supports or opposes the merger, but he referenced the potential impact on competition. “That’s going to be for some economists to tell… But it is a big market share. There’s no question it could be a problem,” he said.
Regulators are expected to review the deal in the coming months.
