According to Deadline, Donald Trump (The Apprentice, Two Weeks Notice) brings down the hammer on bids to buy Warner Bros, seemingly making David Elion’s (Hole in One, Terminator: Dark Fate) day. While everyone was getting ready for the 83rd Golden Globes, Trump was busy retweeting a very unambitious One America News commentary criticizing Netflix‘s currently WBD board-approved $83 billion effort to buy Warner Bros’ streaming and studio assets.
As per Deadline, Trump proclaimed, “Stop The Netflix Cultural Takeover,: the December 12 opinion piece from John M. Pierce insists “the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission should treat this merger as a top-tier antitrust priority — not only for its market implications, but for what it means for free expression and America’s cultural pluralism.” The communication from the MAGA lawyer adds, “Netflix should compete, not conquer. And the United States has a responsibility to ensure that no corporation can dominate the national imagination through raw market power and ideological activism.”
According to Deadline, calling the Ted Sarandos (The Black Godfather, Okja) and Greg Peters (Terrace House, WWE Raw)-run streamer a company “that has repeatedly used its global platform to elevate progressive narratives while suppressing dissenting viewpoints,” Pierce argues in favor of Paramount‘s still rebuffed $108 billion offer.
“It is time to say no to a woke media monopoly before the damage becomes impossible to reverse,” Pierce concludes via Deadline, urging Trump and his crew to step in against Netflix.
As per Deadline, Trump has expressed his concern on the topic at hand, stating that there “could be a problem” with the “huge market share” Netflix has, and will have even more of if it has HBO Max and other WB assets in hand. Maintaining that a NetBros combo is “presumptively unlawful” in a letter to DC lawmakers last week, Ellison and Paramount are increasing the pressure by going straight to shareholders and investors before the deadline on January 21. Paramount will turning up the volume on its long-held contention that it will face far fewer regulatory hoops to jump through than Netflix.
The White House, Paramount and Netflix have not responded to POTUS online stance on who should own Warner Bros.