Netflix Stock Drops as Trump Sets Sights on Director Susan Rice

ETHReserveBank · 2026-02-23T18:48:20+00:00

Key Takeaways President Trump called out a Netflix board member by name over the weekend, suggesting it fire director Susan Rice. Investors took note, with shares of Netflix sliding Monday amid concerns that Trump might serve up stiff opposition to its planned merger with Warner Bros.

ETHReserveBank

2026-02-23 18:48:20

Key Takeaways

President Trump called out a Netflix board member by name over the weekend, suggesting it fire director Susan Rice.
Investors took note, with shares of Netflix sliding Monday amid concerns that Trump might serve up stiff opposition to its planned merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.

The President didn’t exactly weigh in on the Netflix-Warner Bros. Discovery deal over the weekend. But it looked enough like he did that he’s moving markets today.

Shares of Netflix (NFLX) were recently dropping following a statement on Truth Social that said the streaming video giant “should fire” Susan Rice, a member of its board of directors who also served the past three Democratic presidents. President Donald Trump’s Saturday post did not specifically mention Netflix’s planned acquisition of Warner Bros. (WBD), but it responded to another person’s post, which advocated against it.

Why This Matters to Investors

Investors interested in the possibility of a Netflix-Warner Bros. Discover deal have long wondered whether it might face regulatory opposition, which could lead Warner Bros. to a tie-up with Paramount Skydance. Weekend statements from President Trump didn’t end that thinking.

That seemed to inflame investor concern that the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal, its future already uncertain after negotiations with competing Warner suitor Paramount Skydance (PSKY) were reopened last week—might face challenging regulatory obstacles.

The White House did not provide an additional statement to Investopedia in time for publication, and Netflix didn’t respond to a request for comment. Rice could not be reached in time for publication. An updated bid from Paramount Skydance is expected sometime today.

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Shares of Netflix were recently down more than 3%, extending their year-to-date decline to nearly 20%. Warner Bros.’ shares were little changed, while those of Paramount were off 2%. (Read our full coverage of today’s trading here.)

Some market watchers have already begun to look past the deal—from Netflix’s perspective, at least. Analysts at Wedbush last week suggested that the company will be just fine without the tie-up, citing an “entirely healthy” business.

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