Netflix CEO Embarasses Trump After He Makes Shocking Demand

President Donald Trump is demanding that Netflix cut ties with board member Susan Rice “IMMEDIATELY, or pay the consequences.”

Netflix isn’t blinking.

In a tense interview on the BBC’s Today program, co-CEO Ted Sarandos brushed aside the president’s public ultimatum and framed the battle as business—not politics. But with billions on the line and a major Hollywood takeover under federal review, the clash is quickly becoming one of the most dramatic corporate showdowns of 2026.

Over the weekend, Trump, 79, took to Truth Social with a fiery message aimed directly at the streaming giant.

“Netflix should fire racist, Trump Deranged Susan Rice, IMMEDIATELY, or pay the consequences,” he wrote.

He called Rice a “political hack” and questioned her compensation, adding: “HER POWER IS GONE, AND WILL NEVER BE BACK.”

The post immediately set off alarm bells across Wall Street and Hollywood.

Rice, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and longtime national security official, currently sits on Netflix’s nominating and governance committee. She first joined the board in 2018, stepped away during the Biden administration to serve as Domestic Policy Council director, and rejoined the company in 2023.

Sarandos did not escalate the fight.

Asked directly about Trump’s demand, he pivoted.

“This is a business deal. It’s not a political deal,” Sarandos said. “This deal is run by the Department of Justice in the U.S. and regulators throughout Europe and around the world.”

When pressed again about the president’s comments, he offered a subtle jab:

“He likes to do a lot of things on social media.”

The message was clear. Netflix isn’t restructuring its board based on presidential posts.

The timing is explosive.

Netflix is currently battling for control of Warner Bros. Discovery in an $82.7 billion proposed takeover. The Department of Justice is reviewing the deal over antitrust concerns.

At the same time, Paramount Skydance, led by billionaire David Ellison, has launched a hostile $108.4 billion counterbid.

Trump has openly praised Ellison in the past and previously said he would be “involved” in decisions impacting the industry. In December, he called Netflix’s proposed merger a potential “problem,” even while complimenting Sarandos as “a fantastic man.”

Rice became the lightning rod after conservative activist Laura Loomer criticized remarks she made on former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s podcast.

During that interview, Rice said Democrats should not “forgive or forget” corporations that “bent the knee” to Trump and hinted at an “accountability agenda.”

Loomer blasted the comments as “weaponized lawfare” and labeled Netflix and Rice “anti-American.”

Trump’s demand followed soon after.

What makes this fight unusual is the president’s direct intervention in a corporate governance matter.

Media mergers are typically decided by regulators and shareholders—not by social media posts from the Oval Office.

Industry analysts say the clash underscores how entertainment, tech, and politics are increasingly intertwined. Streaming platforms now shape global narratives, cultural debates, and billion-dollar markets.

Sarandos, for his part, insists the Warner deal would expand the industry rather than shrink it.

“We’re buying a movie studio and a distribution entity that we don’t currently have,” he said. “We’ll be adding to the market.”

He also pointed to Paramount’s pledge to slash $6 billion from operations if its takeover succeeds—contrasting that with Netflix’s growth-focused approach.

For now, Netflix has given no indication that Rice’s board seat is in jeopardy.

The Justice Department review continues. The bidding war intensifies. And the White House has shown it’s willing to wade into corporate America’s boardrooms.

One question looms over Hollywood:

Is this just another social media flare-up—or the beginning of a new era where presidential pressure shapes the future of streaming?