Ted Sarandos (Shutterstock image)
Netflix’s Ted Sarandos to Meet Trump Officials at the White House on Feb. 26
February 25, 2026
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos is reportedly meeting at the White House with Trump Administration officials on Feb. 26 to discuss issues surrounding the streamer’s accepted $82.7 billion all-cash acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming and studio assets.
As first reported by Politico, the meetings will address President Trump’s social media call for the streamer to fire board member Susan Rice following her negative comments about corporations allegedly “bending at the knee” to the president.
It was not immediately clear if Sarandos would meet with Trump personally.
Sarandos apparently has a cordial relationship with the president, meeting with Trump before his inauguration and last November to discuss the Warner Bros. Discovery deal.
Trump, who initially said he would be personally involved in the transaction, later backed off saying he would remain an observer. That mindset changed on Feb. 21 after Trump saw a social media post from right-wing influencer Laura Loomer, in which she decried comments made by Rice, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and National Security Advisor in the Obama Administration.
“Fire racist, Trump Deranged Susan Rice, IMMEDIATELY, or pay the consequences,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social X account. “She’s got no talent or skills — Purely a political hack! HER POWER IS GONE, AND WILL NEVER BE BACK. How much is she being paid, and for what??? Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT.”
Sarandos, in response, downplayed Trump’s comments, arguing the Warner Bros. Discovery transaction is a business decision, not political.
Since then, rival suitor Paramount Skydance has upped its hostile all-cash bid to $110.9 billion, which includes WBD’s television networks. Paramount has also agreed to separately absorb upwards of $11.3 billion in termination fees, penalties and other charges — a stunning pledge considering Skydance Media acquired Paramount Global for $8 billion.
Speaking to British press over the weekend, Sarandos was asked if Netflix would counter a new bid. The executive said the streamer is not dependent upon WBD for its future success, and has a strong history of letting other companies overpay for third-party assets.
If WBD accepts the Paramount deal, Netflix is set to receive a $2.8 billion termination fee.
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