Trump says Netflix, WBD deal could be 'problem' as son-in-law Kushner backs Paramount bid
CNBC·2025-12-08 21:03

Core Viewpoint - President Donald Trump expressed skepticism regarding Netflix's proposed acquisition of parts of Warner Bros. Discovery, highlighting concerns about the potential market share Netflix would gain from the deal [1][5]. Group 1: Deal Overview - Netflix's planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery's film studio and streaming properties, including HBO Max, has an enterprise value of nearly $83 billion [2]. - Paramount Skydance announced a hostile bid to acquire all of Warner Bros. Discovery after losing out to Netflix [2]. Group 2: Regulatory and Market Concerns - Trump indicated he would be involved in the regulatory approval process for the deal, emphasizing the importance of understanding the market percentages of the competing companies [3][5]. - Trump raised concerns about Netflix's increasing market share if the acquisition proceeds, suggesting it could pose a problem [6][7]. Group 3: Involvement of Key Figures - Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, is backing Paramount's bid, although Trump claimed he was unaware of Kushner's involvement [4]. - The financing for Paramount's bid includes investment funds from three Gulf states: Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar [4].