President Donald Trump demanded Saturday that Netflix remove board member Susan Rice, warning the company would “pay the consequences” if it did not comply, escalating a political clash after Rice criticized corporations she said were bending to Trump.
Trump issued the demand in a post on Truth Social, calling Rice a “racist, Trump Deranged” political operative and questioning her qualifications and compensation. He said Netflix should fire her “IMMEDIATELY” or face repercussions.
Rice has served on Netflix’s board since 2023, following an earlier term from 2018 to 2020. The company announced in September 2023 that it had reappointed her after her previous service.
Trump’s post linked to an X message from Laura Loomer that included a video of Rice criticizing corporations and institutions she claimed were acting in “very-narrow self-interest” by accommodating Trump. In the clip, Rice warned that companies taking a “knee to Trump” could face an “accountability agenda” from Democrats if they win the 2026 midterm elections and the 2028 presidential election. She argued that Trump “is not popular” and that organizations making short-term political calculations could regret them if power shifts.
The confrontation comes as Netflix is pursuing a reported $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Bloomberg reported last week that the Justice Department is investigating whether the proposed deal could harm moviegoers, while Variety reported that Paramount Skydance is still attempting to block Netflix from acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery.
Rice has also criticized Trump’s efforts to dismantle federal diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. In one remark circulating online, she said of Pete Hegseth: “If you’re a white male Christian cisgender macho MAGA man, you can be as dumb as a rock and be deemed qualified to serve as Secretary of Defense.”
Trump’s demand places Netflix directly in the crosshairs of his political fight with Rice, tying the dispute to broader corporate, regulatory, and election-year tensions as the streaming giant seeks approval for its massive media merger.
