Democratic lawmakers want to know what Trump officials said to Netflix chief about WBD deal

Source: NBC News

March 2, 2026, 3:16 PM EST


Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and two other Democratic lawmakers demanded more information Monday about what Trump administration officials discussed with Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos hours before the streaming giant pulled out of the bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery.

In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Warren and her co-signers expressed concern that Trump administration officials “used the closed-door meetings” with Sarandos last week to “discourage Netflix’s bid so that Paramount Skydance … could take over Warner Bros. instead.” The letter was co-signed by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Rep. Sam Liccardo, D-Calif.

Paramount Skydance signed a merger agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery on Friday, a day after Netflix announced it would not increase its offer for WBD’s studio and streaming assets. Paramount Skydance is led by David Ellison, the son of billionaire Oracle mogul Larry Ellison, a close ally of President Donald Trump.

“Your conversations with Mr. Sarandos taint the Warner Bros. bidding process by raising suspicions that the Trump administration’s DOJ is making merger review decisions based on politicized favoritism rather than the law or the facts,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter, which was shared with NBC News. Netflix did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. The Justice Department confirmed it received the letter and declined to comment.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/media/democratic-lawmakers-letter-trump-officials-warner-bros-discovery-deal-rcna261348