Trump Raises Antitrust Concerns Over Netflix's $83 Billion Warner Bros Acquisition Bid

US President Donald Trump has expressed concerns regarding Netflix's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros., stating that the streaming giant already possesses "a very large market share" and that the deal "could be a problem."

Speaking upon his arrival at the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, Trump declared, "I'll be involved in that decision," referring to the regulatory review of the nearly $83 billion acquisition that has sparked antitrust concerns and discontent among Hollywood's prominent figures.

Despite his reservations about the deal, Trump offered significant praise for Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, who recently visited the White House. The President commended Sarandos for doing "one of the greatest jobs in the history of movies."

If the acquisition proceeds as planned, Netflix would incorporate the competing streaming service HBO Max and the historic Warner Bros. studios into its empire. Warner Bros. has been responsible for producing cinematic classics like "Casablanca" and "Citizen Kane" throughout its storied history, as well as contemporary blockbusters such as "Barbie."

The potential acquisition would substantially expand Netflix's content library, bringing in valuable franchises including the Harry Potter films, the Lord of the Rings saga, and DC Studios' superheroes - Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, among others.

However, the deal would not include television channels such as Discovery and CNN, which would be separated from Warner Bros. before the transaction is completed.

Warner Bros. Discovery officially announced it was for sale in October after receiving multiple unsolicited offers, ultimately choosing Netflix over competitors like cable operator Comcast and media group Paramount Skydance.

Notably, Paramount's chief David Ellison is a significant supporter of President Trump.