Netflix's Sarandos Dismisses Trump's Role in Warner Bros. Merger

The co-CEO says the president has shown no indication of improper involvement in the deal.

Feb. 7, 2026 at 9:31pm

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At the DGA Awards, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos addressed concerns about President Donald Trump's potential involvement in the proposed Netflix-Warner Bros. merger. Sarandos said Trump has a keen interest in the entertainment industry but has made no indication he will be involved in the deal in an improper way, stating it is the Department of Justice's decision. Sarandos also defended Netflix's content decisions and dismissed claims of political bias, saying the company's choices are based on audience engagement data.

Why it matters

The proposed Netflix-Warner Bros. merger is a major media industry deal that has drawn scrutiny, with concerns raised about potential political interference. Sarandos' comments aim to assuage those concerns and emphasize that Netflix is focused on serving its audience rather than any political agenda.

The details

In his comments on the DGA Awards red carpet, Sarandos acknowledged Trump's interest in the entertainment industry but said the president has not signaled any plans for improper involvement in the Netflix-Warner Bros. merger review. Sarandos testified before the Senate earlier in the week, defending the deal as increasing competition in the streaming landscape. He also pushed back on claims of political bias in Netflix's content decisions, stating they are based on audience engagement data rather than ideology.

  • On February 8, 2026, Sarandos addressed the proposed Netflix-Warner Bros. merger and Trump's potential role at the DGA Awards.
  • On February 7, 2026, Sarandos testified before the Senate about the merger.

The players

Ted Sarandos

The co-CEO of Netflix who addressed concerns about President Trump's involvement in the proposed Netflix-Warner Bros. merger.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who has expressed interest in the entertainment industry and the proposed Netflix-Warner Bros. merger.

Department of Justice

The government agency responsible for reviewing and approving the proposed Netflix-Warner Bros. merger.

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What they’re saying

“He's made no indication that he's going to do anything or be involved in any way that's improper. This is the DOJ's deal.”

— Ted Sarandos, Netflix co-CEO (Variety)

“Maybe, folks don't quite understand is just how competitive the marketplace is, for where to put your project or where consumers are gonna watch it, and it's never been more competitive.”

— Ted Sarandos, Netflix co-CEO (Variety)

What’s next

The Department of Justice will continue its review of the proposed Netflix-Warner Bros. merger to determine if it should be approved.

The takeaway

Netflix's co-CEO is working to assure the public and regulators that the proposed merger with Warner Bros. will not be improperly influenced by political factors, emphasizing that the deal is subject to the Department of Justice's review process.