type: timeline_event
President Donald Trump told NBC News he plans to stay out of Netflix and Paramount Skydance's battle over Warner Bros. Discovery—a reversal from comments he made in December suggesting he could personally weigh in on the deal. "I shouldn't be involved," Trump told NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Llamas in an Oval Office interview. "It's the two sides, but I've decided I shouldn't be involved. The Justice Department will handle it."
Trump's comments marked an about-face for the president. In December, he had notably told media outlets, "I'll be involved in that decision," as antitrust concerns over Netflix's proposed $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery mounted and Paramount launched its hostile counter-bid. The reversal came weeks after a White House financial disclosure revealed Trump had purchased up to $2 million in corporate bonds issued by Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery following the megadeal announcement in early December, raising significant conflict of interest concerns from ethics watchdogs.
The deal poses complex conflicts: billionaire Larry Ellison, whose son David Ellison is Paramount's CEO, is close to Trump, while Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos visited Trump in the Oval Office shortly before his company's offer to Warner Bros. Discovery was recommended by WBD leadership. The Justice Department Antitrust Division, led by Abigail Slater, is currently reviewing the transaction, with Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders potentially voting on Netflix's proposed acquisition as early as March.