A fresh round of uncertainty has engulfed Hollywood&rsquo;s biggest takeover battle after President Donald Trump signalled that Netflix&rsquo;s bid for Warner Bros Discovery could face serious regulatory hurdles. The proposed acquisition, valued at nearly $83 billion, would hand Netflix unprecedented control over film, TV and streaming assets, a scale that has already stirred debate in Washington and among competition experts.
Even as Netflix pushes ahead, the contest escalated sharply with Paramount Skydance launching a hostile offer directly to Warner Bros Discovery shareholders. Backed by major global investment funds, the Paramount bid aims to overturn Netflix&rsquo;s advantage and argues that a more balanced industry landscape requires blocking any single platform from consolidating such massive market power.
Pressure has intensified after filings revealed that Jared Kushner&rsquo;s investment firm is among the financiers supporting Paramount&rsquo;s proposal, adding a political layer to an already high-stakes corporate tug-of-war. Trump, while distancing himself from the financing, indicated he would personally weigh in on the approval process and emphasised that the market dominance resulting from the Netflix&ndash;WBD combination would be a key factor.
Both bids face stringent regulatory evaluation as lawmakers warn of reduced competition, higher consumer costs and job losses across the entertainment sector. With Hollywood unions, analysts and policymakers sharpening their scrutiny, the future of Warner Bros Discovery now rests on a decision that blends politics, economics and the shifting power map of global streaming.

Trump Flags Trouble for Netflix–WBD Deal

Trump signals concerns as Netflix–WBD mega-merger faces scrutiny and rival bids

Trump Flags Trouble for Netflix–WBD Deal

Trump signals concerns as Netflix–WBD mega-merger faces scrutiny and rival bids

December 9, 2025 | 20:00 IST