Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has firmly dismissed President Donald Trump's demand that the streaming giant immediately fire board member Susan Rice, a former national security adviser in the Obama and Biden administrations, insisting the controversy has no bearing on Netflix's high-stakes business pursuits.
Sarandos described the situation as strictly commercial, stating in a BBC Radio 4 "Today" program interview Monday: “This is a business deal. It’s not a political deal. This deal is run by the Department of Justice in the U.S. and regulators throughout Europe and around the world.”
He casually noted of Trump's social media post, “He likes to do a lot of things on social media.”
The rebuke comes amid Netflix's aggressive bid—reportedly valued at around $83 billion—to acquire parts or all of Warner Bros. Discovery, pitting it against rival bidder Paramount Skydance in a major media industry consolidation fight. The proposed transaction requires antitrust approval from U.S. authorities and international regulators, making political pressure a potential complication but one Sarandos appeared determined to downplay.
Rice, who first joined Netflix's board in 2018, stepped away in 2020 to serve in the Biden White House, and rejoined in 2023, has drawn conservative ire partly due to recent public comments. In a podcast appearance shortly before Trump's outburst, she suggested Democrats could hold accountable companies and institutions perceived as overly accommodating to Trump if political power shifts (such as in upcoming midterms).
The episode highlights ongoing tensions at the intersection of media mergers, big tech, and presidential influence over private business decisions. Sarandos has previously engaged directly with Trump, including a reported meeting late last year where he pitched the economic benefits of Netflix's potential Warner deal.
By framing the matter as apolitical and regulatory-driven, Netflix signals it intends to keep its board composition and corporate strategy separate from external political demands while navigating one of the entertainment industry's largest potential deals in years.