On February 21, 2026, President Donald Trump demanded that Netflix fire board member Susan Rice and warned the company to “pay the consequences.” He did not say what those consequences would be. The demand followed Rice’s podcast remarks about possible future accountability for companies that had yielded to Trump; it was not tied to a specific announced government action.
What did Trump say about Netflix and Susan Rice?
In a February 21, 2026, Truth Social post reproduced by TechCrunch’s report, Trump wrote: “Netflix should fire racist, Trump Deranged Susan Rice, IMMEDIATELY, or pay the consequences.” He also called Rice a “political hack” and questioned her compensation. The post did not identify what consequences Netflix might face.
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The wording was a public demand and warning, not a documented regulatory order or formal government action. The reporting does not establish that Netflix removed Rice in response.
What had Susan Rice said before Trump’s post?
Rice made the remarks on Preet Bharara’s “Stay Tuned with Preet” podcast. She was discussing companies that, in her view, had yielded to Trump. Rice said they should not assume Democrats would forgive past firings, policy reversals, or laws they had skirted if Democrats returned to power.
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“If these corporations think that the Democrats, when they come back in power, are going to, you know, play by the old rules, and […] say, ‘Oh, never mind. We’ll forgive you for all the people you fired, all the policies and principles you’ve violated, all, you know, the laws you’ve skirted,’ I think they’ve got another thing coming.”
The ellipsis marks omitted speech in TechCrunch’s account. Rice was forecasting possible future accountability; she did not announce a specific government measure. Trump’s post followed the podcast appearance.
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Is Susan Rice on Netflix’s board?
Yes. Netflix’s 2026 proxy statement lists Rice as an independent director, serving since 2023, and a member of the nominating and governance committee. It cites her diplomatic, national-security, and domestic-policy experience as relevant to the board. Rice had previously served on Netflix’s board from 2018 to 2021.
Netflix’s 2023 Form 8-K says her latest appointment took effect September 6, 2023, and discloses an annual director retainer of $300,000. That is the retainer reported in the filing, not a statement of her total compensation or the reason for Trump’s demand. The proxy confirms her listed board role in 2026; the cited sources do not establish a later change.
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What did Netflix say about the Warner Bros. deal?
The February dispute unfolded while Netflix was seeking to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery assets and the deal faced regulatory review. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos rejected the idea that the transaction was political. As reported by Axios, he said: “This is a business deal. It’s not a political deal.” He also said: “This deal is run by the Department of Justice in the U.S., and regulators throughout Europe and around the world.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happened to Netflix’s Warner Bros. bid?
Netflix announced on February 26, 2026, that it would not raise its offer after Warner Bros. Discovery’s board determined Paramount Skydance’s proposal was superior. The Associated Press reported that Netflix withdrew, leaving Paramount in position to take over WBD.
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On September 30, 2026, AP reported that a federal judge had approved Paramount’s settlement agreement with 12 states, clearing a path for the transaction to close. As of October 4, the companies expected to complete it on October 6; that expected close had not yet occurred. Netflix’s withdrawal is a separate development from Trump’s demand about Rice, and the cited reporting does not show that one caused the other.
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- Give the gift of entertainment so your friends and family can stream unlimited films and Netflix original series. Whether your loved one already has a Netflix account or they will be creating a new account, they can use a Netflix gift card toward their membership.
- No credit card is required to redeem a gift code.
- Codes are applied to your account as a gift balance. Gift codes can be added to any plan, regardless of the amount.
- Redemption: Online
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