Trump Won't Intervene in Netflix-Warner Bros. Merger Review

President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he will not intervene in the Justice Department's antitrust review of Netflix's proposed $83 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, marking a reversal from his earlier statements suggesting personal involvement in the deal. In an exclusive interview with NBC News anchor Tom Llamas, set to air in full on Sunday ahead of the Super Bowl broadcast, Trump emphasized that the matter rests with federal regulators.

Trump, who in December had told reporters he would be involved in the decision and planned to consult economists on the merger's implications for market share, now says he has remained hands-off despite outreach from both Netflix and its rival bidder, Paramount Skydance. "I haven't been involved," Trump said in the prerecorded interview. "I must say, I guess I'm considered to be a very strong president. I've been called by both sides. It's the two sides, but I've decided I shouldn't be involved. The Justice Department will handle it."

The transaction, announced in December, would combine Netflix's streaming platform with Warner Bros. Discovery's film studio, HBO content, and HBO Max service, creating a powerhouse in...