President Donald J. Trump took to Truth Social on Saturday to demand that Netflix Inc. remove board member Susan Rice or face unspecified βconsequences,β a public intervention into corporate governance at one of Hollywoodβs largest streaming companies. The demand, made as Netflix pursues a high-stakes merger, adds a political dimension to business decisions that typically unfold behind closed doors.
In his message, Trump attacked Rice personally and questioned her qualifications, writing, βNetflix should fire racist, Trump Deranged Susan Rice, IMMEDIATELY, or pay the consequences. Sheβs got no talent or skills β Purely a political hack!β and adding: βHER POWER IS GONE, AND WILL NEVER BE BACK.β He also asked, βHow much is she being paid, and for what?β
Susan Rice, a former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and National Security Advisor during the Obama administration who also served in the Biden White House, joined Netflixβs board in 2023. The timing of Trumpβs remarks comes as Netflix and Paramount Skydance compete to acquire Warner Bros. Discoveryβs assets in an $83 billion deal now under regulatory review.
Trumpβs post was accompanied by a screenshot of a message from conservative activist Laura Loomer, who framed Riceβs prior comments as a threat. Loomer wrote that Rice suggested corporations that βtook a knee to Trumpβ could face an βaccountability agendaβ if Democrats regain power β language Trump echoed.
Netflix @netflix Board Member Susan Rice @AmbassadorRice says corporations who took a “knee to Trump” will face an “accountability agenda” from elected Democrats if they win the midterms in 2026 and the 2028 Presidential election.
Does Netflix stand by their Board Member⦠https://t.co/FmL458ugHm pic.twitter.com/CkjhDXWX0s
β Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) February 21, 2026
During an interview on the βStay Tuned with Preetβ podcast, Rice discussed what she called accountability for corporations, media companies and institutions that she said had aligned with Trumpβs interests. In that interview, Rice said: βIf these corporations think that the Democrats, when they come back in power, are going to β¦ play by the old rules β¦ I think theyβve got another thing coming.β She added that companies would need to prepare for possible scrutiny if political power shifts.
Rice also commented: βYou know, companies already are starting to hear they better preserve their documentsβ¦ If theyβve done something wrong, theyβll be held accountable, and if they havenβt broken the law, good for them.β
Netflix did not immediately respond to requests for comment about Trumpβs ultimatum or Loomerβs message. Bloomberg reported that Trump did not specify what βconsequencesβ he meant. Past actions by the president and allies have included public criticism of media companies, and officials including Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr have weighed in on broadcast licensing matters in disputes over content, though there has been no indication of formal regulatory action linked to Netflixβs situation.
Some business and legal analysts note that Trumpβs comments intersect with ongoing antitrust review of the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal by the U.S. Department of Justice, though the department has not publicly tied the board member issue to its regulatory evaluation.
Trumpβs intervention marked a departure from earlier remarks in early February, when he told NBC News that he βshouldnβt be involvedβ in the Netflix-Warner Bros. acquisition process and suggested the Justice Department would handle any oversight.
The merger and related corporate governance questions continue to unfold as negotiators and regulators evaluate the competing bids and potential market impacts.
Featured image by Β Gerald Herbert/ AP
