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Ted Sarandos Responds to Donald Trump’s Call to Fire Board Member Susan Rice: ‘He Likes to Do a Lot of Things on Social Media’
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Ted Sarandos Responds to Donald Trump’s Call to Fire Board Member Susan Rice: ‘He Likes to Do a Lot of Things on Social Media’

#Ted Sarandos #Donald Trump #Netflix #Susan Rice #Warner Bros. Discovery #Social Media #Business Deal

📌 Key Takeaways

  • Sarandos dismissed Trump's demand to fire Susan Rice
  • He characterized the Warner Bros. Discovery bid as a business matter
  • The deal is subject to regulatory approval in the US and Europe
  • Trump's call was made through social media

📖 Full Retelling

Netflix co-CEO and chief content officer Ted Sarandos dismissed former President Donald Trump's social media demand to fire board member Susan Rice during a BBC Radio 4 'Today' program interview Monday morning, emphasizing that the streamer's bid for Warner Bros. Discovery is purely a business matter rather than a political one. Sarandos responded to host Amol Rajan's question about Trump's intervention with a characteristic dismissal of the former president's social media activity, stating 'He likes to do a lot of things on social media.' The Netflix executive further clarified the nature of the Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition, noting that 'This is a business deal. It's not a political deal. This deal is run by the Department of Justice in the U.S. and regulators throughout Europe and around the world.' This statement positions Netflix's corporate decisions outside the realm of political influence, despite Trump's public call for action against Rice, who has served on Netflix's board since 2020 and previously held positions in the Obama administration including National Security Advisor.

🏷️ Themes

Corporate Governance, Media Politics, Business Acquisitions

📚 Related People & Topics

Social media

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Ted Sarandos

Ted Sarandos

American business executive (born 1964)

Theodore Anthony Sarandos Jr. (born July 30, 1964) is an American media executive who has been the co-chief executive officer of Netflix since 2020.

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Netflix

Netflix

American video streaming service

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Susan Rice

Susan Rice

American politician and diplomat (born 1964)

Susan Elizabeth Rice (born November 17, 1964) is an American former diplomat, policy advisor, and public official. As a member of the Democratic Party, Rice served as the 22nd director of the United States Domestic Policy Council from 2021 to 2023, as the 27th U.S. ambassador to the United Nations f...

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Donald Trump

Donald Trump

President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)

Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021. Born into a wealthy New York City family, Trump graduated from the...

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Entity Intersection Graph

Connections for Social media:

🌐 Internet safety 2 shared
🌐 Meta 2 shared
🌐 Open source 1 shared
🌐 Privacy 1 shared
🌐 Distributed social network 1 shared
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Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

This highlights the intersection of business and politics, as a major corporate leader dismisses a political figure's attempt to influence a business decision. It underscores that significant mergers are subject to legal and regulatory scrutiny, not political pressure.

Context & Background

  • Netflix is pursuing an acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery
  • Former President Donald Trump publicly called for Netflix to fire board member Susan Rice
  • Ted Sarandos is the co-CEO and chief content officer of Netflix

What Happens Next

The proposed acquisition will be reviewed by the Department of Justice and international regulators. Netflix will continue its business operations while navigating the regulatory process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Donald Trump demand?

Donald Trump demanded that Netflix fire its board member Susan Rice.

How did Ted Sarandos respond?

Ted Sarandos brushed off the demand, stating it was a business deal subject to regulatory review.

Who is reviewing the Netflix-Warner Bros. Discovery deal?

The deal is being reviewed by the U.S. Department of Justice and regulators in Europe and other regions.

Original Source
Feb 23, 2026 1:27am PT Ted Sarandos Responds to Donald Trump’s Call to Fire Board Member Susan Rice: ‘He Likes to Do a Lot of Things on Social Media’ By Naman Ramachandran Plus Icon Naman Ramachandran Latest COL Group International Expands Microdrama Distribution Network With New Regional Partners, 1,700 Title Slate 43 minutes ago China Box Office: ‘Pegasus 3’ Dominates Lunar New Year Holiday Frame 2 hours ago ‘I Swear’ Star Robert Aramayo in Shock After Being Named BAFTA Best Actor Over Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet: ‘I Honestly Can’t Believe I Won’ 13 hours ago See All Ted Sarandos has brushed off Donald Trump ‘s social media demand that Netflix fire board member Susan Rice , saying the streamer’s bid for Warner Bros. Discovery is a business matter and not a political one. “He likes to do a lot of things on social media,” the Netflix co-CEO and chief content officer told BBC Radio 4’s “Today” program Monday morning when host Amol Rajan asked him to respond to the president’s intervention. Sarandos added: “This is a business deal. It’s not a political deal. This deal is run by the Department of Justice in the U.S. and regulators throughout Europe and around the world.” Related Stories Seth Rogen Pays Tribute to Catherine O'Hara at DGA Awards: Hails 'Studio' Co-Star as 'Utter Genius' and 'Nicest Person'
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Source

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